Jennifer Hudson

Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson has joined the cast of "Sex and the City: The Movie," which begins filming next week in New York, reports the Hollywood Reporter. Hudson will play the assistant to Sarah Jessica Parker's character, Carrie Bradshaw, in the film based on the hit HBO comedy series. In July, the show's four leads, including Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, came aboard for the film after New Line Cinema agreed to finance and distribute it. Chris Noth also joined the cast to reprise his role as Mr. Big. Michael Patrick King is writing and directing. Hudson, who won an Oscar for her supporting role in "Dreamgirls," recently completed production on the ensemble drama "Winged Creatures" starring Kate Beckinsale, Forrest Whitaker, Jackie Earle Haley and Dakota Fanning. Sony is distributing the film. The former "American Idol" contestant is also in the studio working on her debut album for Arista Records, due for release in the first quarter of 2008.