Queen Latifah Tapped to Host A Daytime Talk Show

Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment and Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit announced Monday that they will be partnering with Sony Pictures Television to produce a new syndicated talk show for 2103 with Latifah serving as host. She is expected to join an already crowded landscape that is likely to include Katie Couric, Steve Harvey and Jeff Probst.

The deal was spearheaded by Flavor Unit co-founder Shakim Compere and Overbrook's Miguel Melendez. Both men will serve as executive producers alongside Overbrook trio James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith and Latifah on the daytime effort.

"We share a common vision and have been wanting to collaborate for quite some time," said Compere. Added Melendez, "We have known and admired Latifah for over 20 years: dating back to our music days, to her first television role on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' and years alter when she worked with Jada on the film Set it Off."

For Latifah, who has added movie star ("Joyful Noise"), spokesperson (CoverGirl) and producer (BET's "Let's Stay Together," VH1's "Single Ladies") to her resume, this can be seen as a return to her roots. She first hosted a daytime talker in 1999; the Telepictures production, "Queen Latifah Show," ran for two seasons.

– The Hollywood Reporter