Lee Daniels to Direct Oprah Winfrey in ‘Terms of Endearment’ Remake at Paramount (Exclusive)

Project would reunite actress with the filmmaker behind 2013’s “The Butler”

lee daniels, oprah winfrey Terms of Endearment
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Lee Daniels is in talks to direct “The Butler” star Oprah Winfrey in a remake of the 1983 Oscar winner “Terms of Endearment” that is in development at Paramount Pictures, TheWrap has learned.

According to an individual with knowledge of the project, the studio has secured the rights to the project for Daniels to develop.

Winfrey is lining up to play the smothering mother Aurora Greenway, a role that won Shirley MacLaine an Oscar for Best Actress in the original comedy-drama. The original earned 11 Academy Award nominations and won five, including Best Picture.

Paramount had no comment. Reps for Daniels and Winfrey have not responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.

James L. Brooks walked away with three stautettes for producing, directing, and adapting Larry McMurtry’s novel for the screen.

Jack Nicholson also won Best Supporting actor for playing a retired astronaut who becomes MacLaine’s love interest.

The film covers 30 years of the relationship between Aurora and her feisty daughter, Emma (Debra Winger, who also snagged an Oscar nod for Best Actress) and their struggle to find the courage and humor to live through life’s hazards.

The remake would reunite the actress with the filmmaker who last worked together on the 2013 hit “The Butler” for The Weinstein Company.

“The Butler” generated Oscar talk — but no nominations — when it opened in August 2013. That fact-based film grossed over $176 million worldwide against a budget of $30 million.

Daniels is repped by CAA; Winfrey is repped by WME

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