Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg have joined forces once again to bring the beloved story of “The Color Purple” back to the big screen, this time as a movie musical. Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for the new adaptation, directed by Blitz Bazawule, and it is set to premiere in North America on December 25, with an international release following on January 18, 2024.
The visually stunning trailer takes viewers inside the headspace of Celie, the story’s protagonist, played by “American Idol” winner Fantasia, who is reprising her Broadway role. Audiences get a glimpse of the sisterhood that forms the heart of the narrative, with musical clips and breathtaking production design against the backdrop of a plantation.
The star-studded cast of the latest adaptation includes Fantasia in her major motion picture debut as Celie, Danielle Brooks as Sofia, Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, Colman Domingo as Mister, H.E.R. as Squeak, Halle Bailey as Young Nettie, Corey Hawkins as Harpo, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Mama. Other notable cast members include Louis Gossett Jr., David Alan Grier, Ciara, Deon Cole, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Tamala J. Mann, Stephen Hill, Jon Batiste, and Elizabeth Marvel.
During the trailer launch event, Winfrey, who serves as a producer on the film, emphasized the continued relevance of retelling the story of “The Color Purple” nearly 40 years after its initial release. She stated, “As long as there is a need for self-discovery, self-empowerment, and victory in someone’s life, as long as there is a need for people to know what it feels like to be loved and held by somebody else’s love, there will be a need for ‘The Color Purple.'”
Based on Alice Walker’s acclaimed 1982 novel, “The Color Purple” follows the journey of Celie, a Black Southern woman in the early 20th century who endures abuse from her father and husband. In 1985, Spielberg directed and produced the original movie adaptation, which received 11 Academy Award nominations. The new film aims to bring healing and resonate with audiences, as Winfrey shared a conversation she had with Fantasia, who said the movie changed her and allowed her to forgive.
Blitz Bazawule, known for his work on “Black Is King,” directed the film from a script by Marcus Gardley. Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones serve as producers, with Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Carla Gardini, Mara Jacobs, Adam Fell, Courtenay Valenti, Sheila Walcott, and Michael Beugg as executive producers.
Joining Bazawule behind the camera are director of photography Dan Laustsen, production designer Paul Denham Austerberry, and editor Jon Poll. The choreography is handled by Fatima Robinson, and Francine Jamison-Tanchuck is the costume designer. The music for the film is composed by Kris Bowers, with music supervisors Jordan Carroll and Morgan Rhodes, and executive music producers Nick Baxter, Stephen Bray, and Blitz Bazawule.
With the powerful combination of a talented cast, acclaimed directors, and a timeless story, “The Color Purple” movie musical is poised to captivate audiences and bring the transformative journey of Celie to life once again on the big screen.
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