The trailer for the long awaited and much anticipated Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson is here.
Check it out here.
The film is called “Respect” and will premiere in the UK in September 2021, after it has arrived in the US a month earlier.
The film was originally due for release in 2019, but had been pushed back due to the pandemic.
The film will cover Aretha Franklin’s life, including her childhood days as a gospel singer to her subsequent rise to becoming the “Queen of Soul”.
This is also the second such depiction of Franklin in the last few years. Actress Cynthia Erivo played Franklin in the third series of the show “Genius”. This showing was met with strong opposition from Franklin’s family, who “did not support” the film. They also added that they were not involved in the production.
Last year, Franklin’s son Kecalf said the family also did not support “Respect”, urging fans to boycott it, despite Jennifer Hudson being handpicked for the role by Franklin herself.
“One of the great American stories of all time”
“Respect” was directed by stage director Liesl Tommy, while the screenplay was written by Oscar-winning Thelma & Louise and Nashville creator Callie Khouri. Meanwhile, Tommy previously earned a Tony nomination for Best Direction of a Play for Eclipsed.
“The story of Aretha Franklin’s journey from child prodigy in Detroit to international supernova is rife with struggle and triumph, making her life one the great American stories of all time”, Liesl said.
She added, “As a filmmaker, there is no greater gift than to be able to bring this transcendent chronicle of a woman’s fight for self-realisation to visual life with the enormous talents of the soulful Jennifer Hudson, Callie Khouri and our incredible producers”.
“An honour”
Liesl Tommy mentioned Jennifer Hudson, who was cast for the lead role in the biopic, having been reportedly handpicked for the role by Aretha Franklin herself in 2018, before her death later that year. Hudson said that the pair met following her Oscar victory for Dreamgirls in 2007.
Hudson had also previously performed the song “Amazing Grace” at Franklin’s memorial service.
Check that out here.
Speaking about the role, Hudson said it was an “honour” to be able to bring the civil rights activist to life in this film.
“It’s an absolute honour to be a part of bringing Aretha Franklin’s story to audiences who adore her around the world”, Hudson said. “She is one of the most iconic and talented artists of all time and what a dream come true it is to portray he extraordinary life on screen”.
Also starring alongside Hudson are Mary J Blige, Titus Burgess, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Marc Maron and Audra McDonald.
Pic Crd: Quantrell D. Colbert
