Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah making 'Noise'

Dolly Parton is returning to the big screen to duet with Queen Latifah in the feature "Joyful Noise," which centers around two women who join forces to prevent a small-town gospel choir from shutting down.

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Todd Graff is writing and directing the musical-driven movie for Warners-based Alcon Entertainment, whose co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove will produce along with Catherine Paura and Joe Farrell of Farrell Paura Prods. and O.N.C. Entertainment's Michael Nathanson.

Graff is a practiced hand at putting music on film, having written and directed 2003's teen musical "Camp" and last year's battle-of-the-bands movie "Bandslam."

Latifah will play the mother of two teens who is put in charge of the Pacashau Gospel Choir after the death of its choir director, while Parton will appear as the choir director's widow who hopes to take over her late husband's job.
An Oscar nominee for "Chicago," Latifah, repped by WME and Flavor Unit Entertainment, was most recently seen in Fox Searchlight's "Just Wright."

Parton, who hasn't made a major feature since 1992's "Straight Talk," made her mark on screen with such '80s movies as "Nine to Five" and "Steel Magnolias."