Fox Searchlight drawn to 'Bees'

December 20, 2007 Fox Searchlight is boarding "The Secret Life of Bees," distributing and overseeing the production of the big-screen adaptation of the Sue Monk Kidd best-seller. Searchlight also confirmed Wednesday that it is in final negotiations with Dakota Fanning and Alicia Keys to also star in the film, a female-oriented coming-of-age tale. "Bees," a drama set in the Southern U.S. in the 1960s, centers on teenager Lily Owens (Fanning) and her friend Rosaleen (Hudson) who flee their hometown to escape their harsh upbringing and seek to uncover the mysteries of Lily's late mother.

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