‘The Color Purple’ Musical Cast Announced
The main characters for the upcoming film adaptation of The Color Purple musical have been cast.
In a report by Vanity Fair, Oprah Winfrey, who starred in the original film and is producing the musical film, shared that Fantasia Taylor, Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Halle Bailey would be joining previously announced cast members Corey Hawkins and H.E.R.
Taylor will be reprising her role as Celie, which she played on Broadway in 2007 while Brooks will also be reprising the role of Sofia which she also played on Broadway. Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead) will play Mister, Henson (Empire) will play Shug Avery, Bailey (who will star in the upcoming Disney live-action version of The Little Mermaid) will play Nettie, Hawkins will play Harpo, and H.E.R. will play Squeak.
Blitz Bazawule (Black Is King) is set to direct with a screenplay by Marcus Gardley, adapted from Marsha Norman’s book and with a score by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.
Based on Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Color Purple follows the story of Celie, a black woman who grows up in intense poverty and abuse in the American South during the early 20th century. She is changed when she finds her self-worth through the help of two strong female companions.
The Color Purple was adapted into a film in 1985, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Whoopi Goldberg and Winfrey. In December 2005, a musical adaptation opened on Broadway. It returned to Broadway in 2015 starring Cynthia Erivo as Celie, winning Best Revival of a Musical and Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Erivo. Spielberg and Winfrey have also teamed up for a film adaptation of the musical, set to premiere on December 20, 2023.
The Color Purple features several memorable songs including “Push Da Button,” “Too Beautiful for Words,” and “I’m Here.” The show’s music draws inspiration from jazz, ragtime, gospel, and blues.
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