Renee Zellweger producing breast cancer TV movie
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Renee Zellweger is reteaming with her "Chicago" producers to executive produce an original movie for Lifetime.
"Living Proof" tells the true story of Denny Slamon (Harry Connick Jr.), a UCLA doctor who developed the breast cancer drug Herceptin 2, and his relentless battle to keep the drug trials afloat and save the lives of thousands of women.
It's based on a book by NBC medical correspondent Robert Bazell.
Zellweger, who co-stars with Connick in the upcoming feature "Chilled in Miami," will partner on "Living Proof" with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron
The duo said they approached her knowing her interest in raising awareness of breast cancer issues. Coincidentally, it turned out that Slamon, the doctor at the center of the story, treated Zellweger's close friend and publicist Nanci Ryder.
"She read the script and jumped on board immediately," Meron said.
Zellweger was shooting "Chilled in Miami" at the time and helped bring Connick on board.
"Living Proof," which will be shot in Connick's hometown of New Orleans, is set to air in October as the "programming centerpiece" of Lifetime's 14th annual public awareness campaign "Stop Breast Cancer for Life."
In another reunion of sorts, the TV movie is being directed by Dan Ireland, who filmed Zellweger in 1996's "The Whole Wide World."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
