A musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel about the life-long struggles of an African-American woman living in the south during the early 1900s.
Release date: December 25, 2023 (USA)
Director: Blitz Bazawule
Producers: Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, Quincy Jones, Oprah Winfrey
Adapted from: The Color Purple
Production companies: Harpo Productions, Scott Sanders Productions, Amblin Entertainment
Executive producers: Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker, Mara Jacobs
The Color Purple Movie
The Color Purple Release Date
We’ll have to wait for a late 2023 release.
Warner Bros. has announced that The Color Purple is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 25, 2023.
The Color Purple Story
The Color Purple is the coming-of-age tale of Celie Harris and the tribulations she endures during her life in the early twentieth-century U.S. South. At fourteen, she is impregnated by her father, and after giving birth he takes the baby away. She is then given to Albert “Mister” Johnson for marriage, separated from her sister Nettie, whom she is tremendously close to. Mister beats Celie into submission and bans Nettie from their home, proclaiming that Celie will never see her sister again.
Though Celie tells Nettie to write, Mister forbids Celie from touching the mailbox. Over decades, Celie lives a life of domestic imprisonment but meets a number of empowering women along the way, whose own stories are also impertinent to the plot. When Celie finally breaks away from Mister, cursing him in the process, her character only soars from there, and viewers are met with an exceptionally happy ending.
The Color Purple Movie
For The Color Of Purple Movie: Oprah expresses her excitement about the opportunity to assemble a remarkable cast for the upcoming adaptation, aiming to match the talent and impact of the original musical. She provides her insights on why each selected performer is perfectly suited for their respective roles.
Fantasia as Celie
Fantasia Barrino, a renowned R&B singer who gained popularity through her appearance on American Idol, has been chosen to portray Celie in The Color Purple. Oprah emphasizes Fantasia’s rawness, vulnerability, and exceptional singing ability, (The Color Purple)
which make her a perfect fit for the role. Oprah believes that Fantasia will deliver an outstanding performance, as Celie’s character demands a portrayal of a wide range of emotions, transitioning from a place of perceived weakness to empowerment.
Danielle Brooks as Sofia
Danielle Brooks, widely recognized for her role in Orange Is the New Black, played the character of Sofia, Celie’s close friend, in the Broadway version of The Color Purple.
Oprah was deeply impressed by her stage performance, making the decision to cast her in the movie adaptation feel like a seamless passing of the baton to the next Sofia.
Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery
Oprah considers Shug Avery to be a vital character who embodies a unique combination of raw sexiness, wisdom, and mentorship. Shug serves as Celie’s role model, showing her the potential of women and imparting valuable insights.
With a blend of sensuality and wisdom, Shug Avery delivers the iconic line that failing to appreciate the color purple displeases God.(The Color Purple)
Corey Hawkins as Harpo
After discussing Corey Hawkins’ performance in In the Heights, Oprah and director Bazawule agreed that he was a perfect choice for the role of Harpo, who marries Sofia.
They believed that Hawkins could effectively portray Harpo’s friendly and warm nature, while also conveying a sense of naivety and providing support to Celie and Sofia. Their excitement grew when Hawkins accepted the role.
Colman Domingo as Mister
Having collaborated briefly with Colman Domingo in Selma, Oprah eagerly anticipated the opportunity to work with him once more. Oprah felt that Colman possessed a similar stature and commanding presence to Danny Glover, who played the original Mister in The Color Purple. She envisioned Colman as Danny’s son, which further solidified her belief in his suitability for the role.(The Color Purple)
H.E.R. as Squeak
H.E.R., a Grammy-winning R&B singer, will be making her acting debut in The Color Purple. Oprah expressed her hopeful anticipation from the very beginning when approaching H.E.R. for the role.
There were concerns initially as H.E.R. had planned to be on tour, creating uncertainty about her availability. However, to the delight of everyone involved, H.E.R. made the decision to rearrange her touring schedule and join the film. The Color Purple team celebrated the happy news of H.E.R.’s acceptance and commitment to the project.
Halle Bailey as Young Nettie
Nettie, Celie’s sister, plays a significant role in the early stages of the story, primarily through the exchange of letters. Oprah emphasizes the need for a captivating presence that can maintain Nettie’s impact even when she is physically absent for most of the film. (The Color Purple)
Halle Bailey, renowned as one half of Chloe x Halle and for her lead role in Disney’s live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, was selected for the role of Nettie based on her remarkable talent and commanding presence, according to Oprah.
