Jennifer Lopez joins Cameron Diaz in 'Expecting'

CEBU, Philippines - Jennifer Lopez has signed on to play Holly, a woman who wants to adopt a baby, in Lionsgate's adaptation of "What to Expect When You're Expecting," the studio announced Friday. Cameron Diaz also stars.

The movie tells four related stories. Lopez's is about Holly, who has difficulty conceiving a child with her husband and wants to adopt a baby from abroad.

Lopez's last movie was "The Back-up Plan," released in April 2010. Since then, she has revitalized her career by becoming a judge on "American Idol."

"What to Expect When You're Expecting" is based on Heidi Murkoff's pregnancy manual, a New York Times best-seller for more than 500 weeks. Heidi Murkoff wrote the script, which was rewritten by Shauna Cross.

According to Lionsgate, "the film is a modern look at love through the eyes of four interconnected couples experiencing the thrills and surprises of having a baby, and ultimately coming to understand the universal truth that no matter what you plan for, life doesn't always deliver what's expected."

The studio plans to release "What to Expect When You're Expecting" for Mother's Day weekend 2012. Kirk Jones ("Waking Ned Devine," "Nanny McPhee") is directing.