TV Article Beaches: Idina Menzel to play Bette Midler's role in Lifetime remake By Lynette Rice Lynette Rice Editor at Large for Entertainment Weekly, host of Outlander Live! on EW Radio, and Mark Harmon enthusiast. Yes, I know the guacamole is extra. EW's editorial guidelines Published on July 28, 2016 05:21PM EDT Did you ever know you were our hero, Idina Menzel? The Frozen singer has signed onto Lifetime’s remake of the 1988 Beaches that starred Bette Midler and featured her classic tune, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” EW has learned. Menzel will take over Midler’s role of CC, an aspiring singer who develops a lifelong friendship with a rich girl named Hillary at the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the new version, however, the pals connect at the Venice boardwalk in Los Angeles. Barbara Hershey played Hillary in the original movie. Lifetime has yet to find its new Hillary, who goes on to become a successful lawyer. Production on the remake will begin Aug. 15 in Vancouver. The Lifetime movie is expected to feature new takes on “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “The Glory of Love” and include several other songs recorded specifically for the movie. Beaches is executive produced by Denise Di Novi (Crazy Stupid Love) and Alison Greenspan (If I Stay). Allison Anders (Ring of Fire) will direct from the script by Bart Barker (Honeymoon With Harry) and Nikole Beckwith (Stockholm, Pennsylvania). The movie will premiere on Lifetime in 2017.