The remake of the musical film Fame will feature Debbie Allen, who starred in the original film in 1980.
Allen will play the director of the New York Academy of Performing Arts, where she will be training and auditioning the stars of tomorrow.
Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally and Bebe Neuwirth will also star in the film, which begins shooting Wednesday.
The new Fame flick is expected to open in theatres on September 25, 2009.