Reba toplining ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ series at NBC

McEntire makes long-awaited return to television

Reba McEntire is returning to television with an adaptation of the novel and film Fried Green Tomatoes at NBC. Variety was the first to report that multi-faceted country star will star and executive produce the hour long drama series alongside Norman Lear.

The series is described as a modernization that explores the lives of descendants from the original. McEntire will play a present day Idgie Threadgoode who returns to Whistle Stop after a decade away. She must wrestle with a changed town, estranged daughter, faltering cafe and life-changing secret.

McEntire will also executive produce the series with Jennifer Cecil writing and executive producing. Lear produced the original film and will co-executive produce with Brent Miller under their Act III Productions banner. Fannie Flagg, author of the original novel and co-writer of the film’s screenplay, will also executive produce with Universal Television as the studio.

The novel was originally published in 1987 and produced a film in 1991 that starred Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker, and Cicely Tyson.

No word on when production will begin or when the series will premiere.

McEntire most recently appeared in a guest role on the CBS single camera sitcom Young Sheldon. McEntire made her foray into television with her eponymous sitcom Reba, which aired on The WB/CW from 2001-2007.

She returned to TV in 2012-2013 for Malibu Country with Lily Tomlin for one season on ABC. She has since made guest appearances in Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing, Reba co-star Melissa Peterman’s Baby Daddy and Working Class, along with the Jami Gertz starring The Neighbors. In 2017, McEntire shot a pilot with producer Marc Cherry for ABC called Red Blooded, described as a “Southern Gothic soap opera” starring McEntire as a small town sheriff. The network ultimately passed, but Cherry is said to be interested in re-shopping the series to streaming outlets for a better fit.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com