Latifah, Hudson, Okonedo A-Buzz-Buzz

Queen Latifah and Sophie Okonedo are set to play eccentric beekeeping sisters in The Secret Life of Bees, and Jennifer Hudson will play a caregiver who helps Dakota Fanning escape from a bad family situation. Alicia Keys is in negotiations to play the third beekeeper, Variety says.

Set in South Carolina in 1964, story centers on Lily Owens (Fanning), who escapes her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father by running away with her caregiver and only friend (Hudson) to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. Latifah, Okonedo and Keys would play the three sisters.