Plans to make a movie version of Chicago have dragged on for years, but the project stubbornly refuses to die, with news trickling out every few months or so. The latest report, seen in Variety, is that rap star, talk show host and sometime actress Queen Latifah will play Matron "Mama" Morton in the Miramax flick.

She joins the already announced Renee Zellweger as Roxie, Catherine Zeta Jones as Velma and Richard Gere as Billy Flynn.

Marty Richards and Harvey Weinstein are producing the film. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are the executive producers.

Chicago opened on Broadway on Nov. 11, 1996, and talks of a film version of the hit revival have lasted nearly as long. At various times stars such as Goldie Hawn and Madonna were attached to the project, as well as scribes like Larry Gelbart and Wendy Wasserstein. Original stage stars Bebe Neuwirth, Anne Reinking and James Naughton have never really been in the running to recreate their roles on film.

Latifah's films include "Set It Off" and "Living Out Loud."