The Color Purple is an American musical coming-of-age period drama film directed by Blitz Bazawule from a screenplay by Marcus Gardley, based on the stage musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker. It is the second film adaptation of the novel, following Steven Spielberg's 1985 film. Spielberg and Quincy Jones return to produce this version, along with the stage musical's producers Scott Sanders and Oprah Winfrey, the latter of whom also starred in the 1985 film as Sofia. The film stars Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks, both reprising their roles from stage musical productions, alongside Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi.
The Color Purple was released in the United States on December 25, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Premise[]
A story of the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s.
Cast[]
- Fantasia Barrino as Celie Harris Johnson
- Phylicia Mpasi as young Celie Harris Johnson
- Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery
- Danielle Brooks as Sofia
- Colman Domingo as Albert "Mister" Johnson
- Corey Hawkins as Harpo Johnson
- H.E.R. as Mary Agnes ("Squeak")
- Ciara as Nettie Harris
- Halle Bailey as young Nettie Harris
- Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Mama
- Louis Gossett Jr. as Ol' Mister Johnson
- David Alan Grier as Rev. Samuel Avery
- Tamela J. Mann as First Lady
- Deon Cole as Alfonso
- Stephen Hill as Henry "Buster" Broadnax
- Elizabeth Marvel as Miss Millie
- Jon Batiste as Grady
Production[]
On November 2, 2018, it was announced that a film adaptation of the musical was in development at Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, the same companies that made the 1985 film adaptation of the novel, with Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones, Scott Sanders, and Oprah Winfrey all signed on to produce.[1] In August 2020, it was announced that Marcus Gardley will pen the screenplay and Black Is King's Blitz Bazawule will direct.[2]
Winfrey praised the selection of Bazawule as director, after she and the producers saw his work on The Burial of Kojo, saying that they "were all blown away 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." It was also announced that Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Carla Gardini, and Mara Jacobs will executive produce the film.[3]
In August 2021, Corey Hawkins was cast in a lead role.[4] That same month, H.E.R. was cast in her feature acting debut.[5] In February 2022, Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, and Halle Bailey joined the cast, with Barrino and Brooks reprising their roles from productions of the stage musical.[6][7][8] In March 2022, Louis Gossett Jr., David Alan Grier, Tamela J. Mann, Phylicia Mpasi, Deon Cole, Stephen Hill, and Ciara joined the cast.[9][10] In April 2022, Aunjanue Ellis, Elizabeth Marvel and Jon Batiste joined the cast.[11][12][13]
Filming began in March 2022, with production taking place at Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island from March 16 to March 25.[14] Filming officially wrapped in July 2022.
Siedah Garrett will be joining Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray (in place of the late Allee Willis) in contributing new material to the film's score.[15]
Release[]
The film was released on December 25, 2023.[16] It was originally scheduled to be released on December 20, 2023, but later switched release dates with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.[17]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ Kit, Borys (November 2, 2018). Spielberg, Oprah Bringing Color Purple to Big Screen (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 24, 2020). The Color Purple Feature Musical: 'Black Is King's Blitz Bazawule Set To Direct. Deadline Hollywood.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 24, 2020). The Color Purple Feature Musical: 'Black Is King's Blitz Bazawule Set To Direct. Deadline Hollywood.
- ↑ Corey Hawkins Joining Warner Bros Feature Musical The Color Purple. Deadline Hollywood (August 26, 2021).
- ↑ Galuppo, Mia (August 27, 2021). H.E.R. to Make Acting Debut in The Color Purple Movie Musical (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ Jackson, Angelique (February 1, 2022). Taraji P. Henson to Star as Shug Avery in Blitz Bazawule's The Color Purple (Exclusive).
- ↑ Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks to Play Celie and Sofia in The Color Purple Movie (February 3, 2022).
- ↑ Breznican, Anthony (2022-02-04). "Oprah Winfrey Reveals the Glorious Cast of The Color Purple Musical Film". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ↑ Jones, Okla (March 18, 2022). Exclusive: Tamela Mann, Deon Cole And Louis Gossett, Jr. Added To Cast Of The Color Purple.
- ↑ Nolfi, Joey (March 22, 2022). "Ciara joins The Color Purple movie musical as adult version of Halle Bailey's Nettie". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ↑ Jones, Okla (April 6, 2022). Exclusive: Aunjanue Ellis Joins The Cast Of 'The Color Purple'. Essence.
- ↑ Jackson, Angelique (2022-04-08). 'The Dropout's' Elizabeth Marvel Joins Blitz Bazawule's 'The Color Purple' Musical Movie (EXCLUSIVE) (in en-US).
- ↑ Jon Batiste to Make Feature Acting Debut in Blitz Bazawule's The Color Purple (April 15, 2022).
- ↑ The Color Purple: The Musical set to film on Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach (March 2, 2022).
- ↑ "Carlinhos Brown, Siedah Garrett Board Creative Team of Upcoming Black Orpheus Stage Musical", Playbill, 19 April 2022. (in en)
- ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (December 23, 2020). Warner Bros. to Release Mad Max: Fury Road Prequel and The Color Purple Musical in Theaters in 2023. Variety.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2023-04-05). 'Aquaman 2' Shifts Five Days Earlier, Warner Bros Dates 'The Wise Guys', 'Minecraft'.
