The Color Purple (2023 film)

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The Color Purple
Directed byBlitz Bazawule
Screenplay byMarcus Gardley
Based on
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDan Laustsen
Edited byJon Poll
Music by
  • Brenda Russell
  • Allee Willis
  • Stephen Bray
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • December 20, 2023 (2023-12-20)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Color Purple is an upcoming American musical coming-of-age period drama film directed by Blitz Bazawule and adapted for the screen by Marcus Gardley from the 2005 stage musical of the same name, which is in turn based on Alice Walker's 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. It is the second film adaptation of the novel, following Steven Spielberg's 1985 film adaptation. 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 Color Purple is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 20, 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[]

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 writing the film's music.[15]

Release[]

The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 20, 2023.[16]

References[]

  1. ^ Kit, Borys (November 2, 2018). "Spielberg, Oprah Bringing Color Purple to Big Screen (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  2. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 24, 2020). "The Color Purple Feature Musical: 'Black Is King's Blitz Bazawule Set To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  3. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 24, 2020). "The Color Purple Feature Musical: 'Black Is King's Blitz Bazawule Set To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  4. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Cordero, Rosy (August 26, 2021). "Corey Hawkins Joining Warner Bros Feature Musical The Color Purple". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Galuppo, Mia (August 27, 2021). "H.E.R. to Make Acting Debut in The Color Purple Movie Musical (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  6. ^ Jackson, Angelique (February 1, 2022). "Taraji P. Henson to Star as Shug Avery in Blitz Bazawule's The Color Purple (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Jackson, Angelique (February 3, 2022). "Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks to Play Celie and Sofia in The Color Purple Movie". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  8. ^ Breznican, Anthony (February 4, 2022). "Oprah Winfrey Reveals the Glorious Cast of The Color Purple Musical Film". Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  9. ^ Jones, Okla (March 18, 2022). "Exclusive: Tamela Mann, Deon Cole And Louis Gossett, Jr. Added To Cast Of The Color Purple". Essence. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Jones, Okla (April 6, 2022). "Exclusive: Aunjanue Ellis Joins The Cast Of 'The Color Purple'". Essence. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  12. ^ Jackson, Angelique (April 8, 2022). "'The Dropout's' Elizabeth Marvel Joins Blitz Bazawule's 'The Color Purple' Musical Movie (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  13. ^ Jackson, Angelique (April 15, 2022). "Jon Batiste to Make Feature Acting Debut in Blitz Bazawule's The Color Purple". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  14. ^ Cawthon, Graham (March 2, 2022). "The Color Purple: The Musical set to film on Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach". WJCL. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  15. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 19, 2022). "Carlinhos Brown, Siedah Garrett Board Creative Team of Upcoming Black Orpheus Stage Musical". Playbill. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  16. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (December 23, 2020). "Warner Bros. to Release Mad Max: Fury Road Prequel and The Color Purple Musical in Theaters in 2023". Variety. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.

External links[]

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