Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou and Alicia Silverstone are checking into "Beauty Shop" alongside Queen Latifah for MGM and "Honey" helmer Bille Woodruff.

Shooting starts next month on the "Barbershop" spinoff, which is being produced by Queen Latifah, Mandeville Films' David Hoberman, State Street partners Robert Teitel and George Tillman and Queen Latifah's producing partner Shakim Compere. Mandeville president of production Todd Lieberman, Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez are executive producing.

Kate Lanier wrote a version of the screenplay as did Norman Vance. Audrey Wells is now on board to do a rewrite and steer the project toward a love story between Queen Latifah's character and Hounsou's character, Joe, sources said. "Beauty Shop" revolves around the activities of a hair salon run by Queen Latifah's character Gina. Silverstone is set to play the only white staffer in the salon who is a naive Southern girl finding her way in Atlanta. At the studio, Elizabeth Cantillon is overseeing.

The role marks a change for Hounsou, who has come to be known for more serious material, including roles in "Gladiator" and "Amistad." With "Beauty Shop," he segues to leading-man status following his Oscar-nominated turn in "In America," which also earned him a best supporting actor trophy at the recent IFP/Independent Spirit Awards. He's repped by the Gersh Agency and Brillstein-Grey's Peter Safran.

Silverstone is repped by Innovative Artists' Mike Packenham and manager Carolyn Kessler. The "Miss Match" star next appears in Warner Bros. Pictures' "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed," which opens March 26.