The film adaptation of the musical will be heading to UK cinemas from the 26th January 2024.
A new trailer has now been released for the upcoming film adaptation of the musical The Color Purple, based on the novel by Alice Walker and based on the musical stage play, book (of the musical stage play) by Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.
Released in UK cinemas on the 26th January 2024, the film is directed by Blitz Bazawule and stars: Taraji P. Henson (“What Men Want,” “Hidden Figures”), Danielle Brooks (“Peacemaker,” “Orange Is the New Black”), Colman Domingo (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Fear the Walking Dead”), Corey Hawkins (“In the Heights,” “BlacKkKlansman”), H.E.R. (“Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration”), Halle Bailey (“The Little Mermaid,” “Grown-ish”), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“King Richard,” “If Beale Street Could Talk”), and Fantasia Barrino (in her major motion picture debut).
Alice Walker’s novel was fist adapted into a film by Steven Spielberg in 1985 (Spielberg along with Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Quincy Jones produces this new musical film) and was first seen in musical form on Broadway in 2005.
Also involved in the film is: director of photography Dan Laustsen (“John Wick: Chapter 4,” “The Shape of Water”), production designer Paul Denham Austerberry (“The Flash,” “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”) and editor Jon Poll (“Bombshell,” “The Greatest Showman”). The choreographer is Fatima Robinson (“Coming 2 America,” “Dreamgirls”) and the costumes are designed by Francine Jamison-Tanchuck (“Emancipation,” “One Night in Miami…”). The music supervisors are Jordan Carroll (“The Greatest Showman,” “Godfather of Harlem”) and Morgan Rhodes (“Space Jam: A New Legacy,” “Selma”); the music is by Kris Bowers (“King Richard,” “Green Book”); and the executive music producers are Nick Baxter (“Babylon,” “CODA”), Stephen Bray (“Respect,” “Juanita”) and Blitz Bazawule.
The film’s cast is led by Fantasia Barrino as Celie, after assuming the role from 2007 to 2008 in the stage musical’s Broadway premiere and reprising it in 2010 during the US national tour, alongside Danielle Brooks as Sofia, reprising her Tony-nominated performance in the role from the 2015 Broadway revival.