Aretha Franklin
*If negotiations work out, Halle Berry will take on the role of a young Aretha Franklin in an upcoming biopic based on the Queen of Soul’s New York Times best-selling autobiography, “Aretha: From These Roots.”
Franklin today revealed the all-star lineup she has chosen to take on starring roles in the film, pending signed contracts. Denzel Washington will star as her father Rev. C.L. Franklin, the legendary minister, national evangelist, pastor and civil rights leader.
Franklin selected Oscar-nominated Terrence Howard for the role of her life-long friend and music icon Smokey Robinson; Blair Underwood for the role of her brother and long-time manager Cecil Franklin; and Nia Long for the role of her sister, Erma Franklin.
Aretha Franklin
Halle Berry
She also chose award-winning gospel singers LaShun Pace and Karen Clark Sheard to take on the roles of members of the world-renowned gospel group, the Ward Singers, with Karen Clark Sheard in the role of Kitty Parham. The Ward Singers greatly influenced Ms. Franklin’s life and career.
Franklin says “the actors are enthusiastic about the project and have agreed to take on these roles subject to further negotiation,” read a statement from her rep.
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This will never happen, at least not with this line-up UNLESS they do it just out of respect for Aretha. She is such a diva at her old age that I’m not surprised at the fact that she chose hollywood’s black elite to play in her a movie about her.
I’d rather see Jennifer Hudson in that role, who looks a helluva lot more like Re-Re and can also sing!
Aretha obviously likes something about Halle’s acting performances – Jennifer would be great at the singing performances, but, this story is about a young Aretha at the beginning of her life and career, and probably as far back as when Aretha had her first baby at age 15 – maybe part of the story is coming out of her book about her life that came out a few years ago.
ok of all the black actresses, come on give me a break. i can think of several off the top of my head who would b more fitting and i don’t have nething against halle but cmon aretha b 4real.
“I”?…don t think it s Halle’s “acting skills”, I think Aretha really thinks she is a fiiiiiine as Halle! She has an un BEELEEEEEEvable ego & always haaaaaas! Umm, Ms. Franklin?, you are without a doubt “the QUEEN” of soul! EVERY female singer, worth a damn, who has EVVA been out thurr?, has taken something from YOUR…”recipe”! But…it s time to leave dem “funhouse mirrors”?….alonnnnnnne! Plus, “Halle” wouldn’t give your life’s story the depth is damn well deserves! Find someone with “the chops” to do YOU……justice!
Umm…..git dem people “down thurr” dat …ice wawdah?, & maybe we’ll talk! Wah wah wah waaaaaaah!
Ok…one moe gin! Ummm…when they can “ski” in HELL!? etc…. ahiiiiight!, I’m done! (now, back to our regularly scheduled program)
I’m confused, I think she wants to give Halle a “dinner roll”, not an “acting role”
How utterly ridiculous is that to have Halle plays her back in the day. SMDH!!!!! Jennifer would be a much better choice IMO.
I surprised she didn’t reach for Beyonce to play the part. LOL!!!
You don’t like Taraje Henson Aretha? Not sure if she can sing though.. and yes Jennifer Hudson could do Aretha.
Jill Scott
Get the h*ll outta here…that’s like Dorothy Dandrige playing the roll of Hattie McDaniels…
I think either Jennifer Hudson or Jill Scott could play this part. It would be perfect since Jennifer has lost weight. She might have to gain a little to play Aretha when she was young. It’s ridiculous to think of Halle playing Aretha. So she wants a non-singer to play her and real singers to play The Ward Singers. My guess is that she would wants her own singing voice in the movie because Halle can’t possibly imitate her singing at all. I’m not sure that this will happen. Are all of these A-list African-American Actors going to be in one movie together?
Did none of you see the first picture at the top of this page. Aretha was a FOX in her younger days!
I do think that Jennifer Hudson would be better suited to play the role although. Not so much for her singing ability, but because of her body type. She has lost a lot of weight, and looks fantastic!
The person who plays the young Aretha does not need to know how to sing. Remember Angela Bassett’s role of Tina Turner in What’s Love Got To Do With It?
I remember when it was announced that she would play the role. I didn’t think it was a good fit at all, but Angela knocked that role out of the park!!! She was absolutely Phenomenal, Now, I can’t imagine anyone else playing Tina….
I heard they’re doing a new biopic on Ester Rolle (Good Times) and Halle Berry was asked to play the lead