Idina Menzel's 'Beaches' re-make to premiere on Lifetime on Jan. 21

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Lifetime says its re-imagining of Beaches, the classic tale of female friendship, is set to premiere on Jan. 21.

Directed by Allison Anders, the TV movie will feature new versions on the beloved songs "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "The Glory of Love," as well as several other songs recorded specifically for this project.

"In this contemporary remake, Beaches follows the serendipitous meeting of two young girls on the Venice Boardwalk, who, though worlds apart in lifestyle, embark on unexpected and lifelong friendship," a synopsis said. "CC is an aspiring singer trying to make it in Los Angeles until she is discovered by a director who gives her her first big shot. Hillary is the daughter of a prominent civil rights lawyer who struggles to find her own destiny. Their friendship -- even with its ups and downs -- sustains them for decades."

The roles were played by Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey in the original, 1988 film, which was also based on Iris Rainer Dart's novel.