Grammy Award-winning musician Jon Batiste has had a breakout year in 2022. After taking home the Grammy for Album of the Year, the “We Are” singer was announced as the latest big-name star in the upcoming remake. from the beloved Steven Spielberg film. The color Purple.
Juan Batista | Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
‘The color purple’ will have a musical remake with Jon Batiste
Author Alice Walker first released her novel The color Purple in 1982. In 1985, prolific director Steven Spielberg directed the iconic film adaptation of the book. The film starred Whoopi Goldberg as the title character Celie, while her co-stars included Oprah Winfrey as Sofia and Laurence Fishburne as Swain.
A stage musical version of The color Purple premiered in 2005, and now, the musical is also getting the movie treatment. The next remake of The color Purple It will be released on December 20, 2023.
The highly anticipated remake will be directed by Blitz Bazawule, best known for Beyoncé’s 2020 film. black is king and 2018 Kojo’s burial. The screenplay was written by Marcus Gardley, based on the original novel by Walker. Both Spielberg and music mogul Quincy Jones return to produce this version of the project, along with musical producers Scott Sanders and Oprah Winfrey.
Jon Batiste will be in the remake of ‘The Color Purple’
Hot on the heels of his Grammy Awards, Batiste announced that he will be joining the movie musical. He will play the role of Grady, who was played by Ben Guillory in Spielberg’s version of the story. Grady’s wife, Shug Avery, will be played by Taraji P. Henson.
Batiste expressed his enthusiasm for the film in an Instagram post. “Word got out!” he said. “This is going to be so much fun.”
It won’t be Batiste’s first on-screen role, as he appeared in Spike Lee’s 2014 film. Give Sweet Blood of Jesus.
Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino will also be in the film
The star-studded project will include several other talented artists in addition to Batiste and Henson. Taking on Goldberg’s iconic role of Celie is american idol the champion Fantasia Barrino, while orange is the new black star Danielle Brooks will play the role of Winfrey’s Sofia, the same character Brooks played on Broadway in the stage version of the musical. Winfrey herself surprised Brooks during an interview for Good morning america to tell him that he got the part.
Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis will play Mama, and accomplished actor Coleman Domingo will take on the role of Mister. SHE and Ciara will also be part of the film; a younger version of Ciara’s character, Nettie, will be played by singer Halle Bailey, who is gearing up for her own big movie: the highly anticipated live-action remake of The little Mermaid.
Other experienced actors in the cast include David Alan Grier, Louis Gossett Jr. and Corey Hawkins.
“We have all been impressed by Blitz’s unique vision as a director and look forward to seeing how he brings the next evolution of this beloved story to life,” Winfrey told Deadline of the film.
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