[Edited 9/12/10 10:10am]

CHIC0 said:

Denzel Washington, Halle Berry Among Aretha Franklin's A-List Cast for Biopic

By Bridget Bland on Sep 9th 2010 6:25PM

The Queen has spoken, and she wants the biggest names in black Hollywood to star in her highly anticipated biopic.

Aretha Franklin has been quietly meeting with today's leading black actors and actresses, including Denzel Washington and Terence Howard, for roles in the film based on her New York Times best-selling autobiography, 'Aretha: From These Roots," and she says she's in the midst of finalizing negotiations.

The 18-time Grammy Award-winning power belter tells BV Newswire, "These actors are enthusiastic about the project and have agreed to take on these roles subject to further negotiation."

Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry is Aretha's top pick to play her younger self. Berry previously won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for portraying famed actress Dorothy Dandridge in the made-for-television movie 'Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,'

Denzel Washington, whom the Detroit native visited during his Tony Award-winning run on Broadway in August Wilson's 'Fences,' told Franklin he's open to playing the role of Franklin's father, Rev. C.L. Franklin. 'Law and Order: Los Angeles' star and Oscar-nominated Terrence Howard agreed to portray her dear friend and former Miracles front man, Smokey Robinson. Nia Long is being asked to play the Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree's sister, Erma Franklin, and she wants heartthrob Blair Underwood on board to play her brother and longtime manager, Cecil Franklin.

It is fitting that Franklin would seek out the best in gospel music to take on the roles of members of the world-renowned gospel group, the Ward Singers. Karen Clark Sheard and LaShun Pace are being asked to portray the women who most influenced Franklin's career.

[Edited 9/12/10 10:10am]

This gotta be a lie! There's been talk about this biopic for years...

silverchild said:

This gotta be a lie! There's been talk about this biopic for years...

don't shoot the messenger.

what's a lie? the biopic or her choices?

lol. She needs to pick "Precious", don't flatter yourself Queen Aretha.

Halle??? Bitch who?

No Aretha has talked about getting Halle to play her lol

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[img:$uid]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8r5KcavfltE/SpGCuRr7GLI/AAAAAAAAHWU/tPqO0B_yBGE/s400/aretha+franklin+and+jerry+wexler.bmp[/img:$uid]

She hasn't always been a heavy set woman. Hell she was Halle's weight in the mid-1970s lol

[Edited 9/12/10 10:29am]

Nick715 said:

lol. She needs to pick "Precious", don't flatter yourself Queen Aretha.

Halle??? Bitch who?

That's so bad.

She used to be slim!

Cinnie said:

Nick715 said:

lol. She needs to pick "Precious", don't flatter yourself Queen Aretha.

Halle??? Bitch who?

That's so bad.

She used to be slim!

Yep. At one point her weight was kept down, then it would pick back up, ever since the mid-1990s it's not come down.

CHIC0 said:

Terrence Howard agreed to portray her dear friend and former Miracles front man, Smokey Robinson. Nia Long is being asked to play the Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree's sister, Erma Franklin,

Okay, I'm feelin' that casting.

How's Terrence Howard gonna stupidly be cast as Marvin Gaye in one movie, and now Smokey Robinson in this one? Do all biopic movies about Black music have to include Terrence Howard?

WaterInYourBath said:

How's Terrence Howard gonna stupidly be cast as Marvin Gaye in one movie, and now Smokey Robinson in this one? Do all biopic movies about Black music have to include Terrence Howard?

I don't get that shit either. He played Ray Charles' first musical partner Sonny McGee in "Ray" I think.

I know that Re-Re used to be slim but I didn't know she was ever as small as Halle.

I think Regina King would have been a better choice.

For Rev. Franklin I would have chosen Larry Fishbone even though I think Denzel can literally do no wrong.

I would choose Michael Ealy for Smokey.

I'm fine with Blair and Nia.

[Snip - luv4u]

I don't care who they cast as long as:

A. Mofos won't try to re-record Aretha's songs for the project.

And most importantly...

B. Stay as faaaaaaaaaaar away from that scrambled egg mess of a book they might as well shoot themselves in the feet if they took based that movie from it because the project will end up as a cross between a documentary about the "best burger stands in US" and every color shade thrown against every female singer.

ambiguity when it comes to her father, ambiguity when it comes to her mother, ambiguity when it comes to Ted White but will turn around ditch rumors about people like say, Richard Pryor.

RnBAmbassador said:

[Snip - luv4u]

2010 going to 2011 and some black folks can't seem to shake off the dumb shit, SMMFH

Harlepolis said:

RnBAmbassador said:

[Snip - luv4u]

2010 going to 2011 and some black folks can't seem to shake off the dumb shit, SMMFH

Timmy84 said:

WaterInYourBath said:

How's Terrence Howard gonna stupidly be cast as Marvin Gaye in one movie, and now Smokey Robinson in this one? Do all biopic movies about Black music have to include Terrence Howard?

I don't get that shit either. He played Ray Charles' first musical partner Sonny McGee in "Ray" I think.

Yeah he was in "Ray" too. Aretha needs to find someone other than Terrence Howard.

I just stopped laughing. Now i'll read the thread.

I dont like the Halle Berry choice for Aretha at all.

[Edited 9/12/10 16:00pm]

I'd pick either Theresa Randle or Regina King for Auntie Ree Ree personally.

[Edited 9/12/10 16:01pm]

Timmy84 said:

No Aretha has talked about getting Halle to play her lol

[img:$uid]http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/52702170.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=45B0EB3381F7834DE8F1C5E98BDBFA1E2D7264D088FAF04686EEA354313DE5AF[/img:$uid]

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[img:$uid]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8r5KcavfltE/SpGCuRr7GLI/AAAAAAAAHWU/tPqO0B_yBGE/s400/aretha+franklin+and+jerry+wexler.bmp[/img:$uid]

She hasn't always been a heavy set woman. Hell she was Halle's weight in the mid-1970s lol

[Edited 9/12/10 10:29am]

...and just as FIONE!!

Young Aretha...

Regina King...

Timmy84 said:

WaterInYourBath said:

How's Terrence Howard gonna stupidly be cast as Marvin Gaye in one movie, and now Smokey Robinson in this one? Do all biopic movies about Black music have to include Terrence Howard?

I don't get that shit either. He played Ray Charles' first musical partner Sonny McGee in "Ray" I think.

Because we all look alike.

Sista Franklin is delusional, they better do an open casting call, in my opinion even Jenniefer Hudson would be a stretch.

RnBAmbassador said:

[Snip - luv4u]

x a billion

RnBAmbassador said:

[Snip - luv4u]

That is one fucked up thing to say, about Halle or anybody...WOW!

purplethunder3121 said:

Young Aretha...

Regina King...

I concur.

RnBAmbassador said:

[Snip - luv4u]

Totaly different mentally in the 50's and 60's . . . segements of the Black community today, wish. Even so, as I said before, Franklin is delusional.

Nick715 said:

lol. She needs to pick "Precious", don't flatter yourself Queen Aretha.

Halle??? Bitch who?

Aww hush. She was slim as a younger woman. Must we go down that road?

Anyway, sounds interesting. What's wrong to us might be right in her eyes for some reason or another. I'm honestly more interested in the lines that are going to be spoken. I expect a rich, promising script about her life.

TD3 said:

Timmy84 said:

I don't get that shit either. He played Ray Charles' first musical partner Sonny McGee in "Ray" I think.

Because we all look alike.

Sista Franklin is delusional, they better do an open casting call, in my opinion even Jenniefer Hudson would be a stretch.

Even that wack sterotype can't justify Terrence being chosen to play every medium-light skin Black man in music history movies.

Regina King would work. Or maybe go with an unknown actress. Shouldn't they be looking for someone in the 20's?

shorttrini said:

RnBAmbassador said:

[Snip - luv4u]

That is one fucked up thing to say, about Halle or anybody...WOW!

but considering it is the same person who said 90% of the black R&B male singers are gay......