Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah and Sophie Okonedo have signed on whilst Dakota Fanning and Alicia Keys are in negotiations for Fox Searchlight's "The Secret Life of Bees" reports the trades.

Based on the Sue Monk Kidd novel and set in South Carolina in 1964, the story centers on Lily Owens (Fanning), who escapes her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father by running away with her caregiver and only friend (Hudson) to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother's past.

Latifah, Okonedo and Keys would play the three sisters, whilst Tristan Wilds will play one of the film's male roles. "Love & Basketball" helmer Gina Prince-Bythewood will direct from a screenplay she wrote.

Filming is scheduled to begin January 9th in North Carolina for release next year.