Lifetime movie about 'Idol' winner scheduled for August

"American Idol" season three winner Fantasia Barrino will soon star in a Lifetime movie, playing a role that should be familiar: herself.

Shooting on "Life Is Not a Fairy Tale: The Fantasia Barrino Story" is scheduled to begin this month, with Emmy winner Debbie Allen ("Fame") directing. Barrino will be joined in the cast by Loretta Devine ("Boston Public," "Dreamgirls"), Tony winner Viola Davis ("King Hedley," CBS' "Stone Cold") and Kadeem Hardison ("A Different World," "White Men Can't Jump").

"Fantasia made America fall in love with her through her astounding voice, but few people knew the obstacles she overcame to get where she is now," says Trevor Walton, who oversees original movies at Lifetime. "She openly shares her inspirational story, and audiences will see that she is not only a phenomenal singer, but also an impressive actress."

The movie is based on Barrino's autobiography of the same name. It tells the story of her less-than-idyllic childhood -- Davis and Hardison play her parents -- and her dropping out of school as a young teenager (Jamia Simone Nash plays the younger Fantasia). She became pregnant at 16 while stuck in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend.

"American Idol" changed all that, propelling Barrino to stardom and a recording career that's so far produced the platinum-selling album "Free Yourself."

Keith Glover wrote the teleplay for "Life Is Not a Fairy Tale." The movie is scheduled to premiere on Lifetime in August.