Aretha Franklin Chooses Jennifer Hudson To Star In MGM Queen Of Soul Film Biopic

EXCLUSIVE: Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party is always the hottest ticket before the Grammy Awards. Tonight he dropped an exceptional surprise. Davis tonight introduced Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson to sing a couple songs, and then told the audience that Hudson will be playing Aretha Franklin in an upcoming biopic about the life of the Queen of Soul. Hudson was in fact hand picked by Franklin to play the role. It was appropriate that Davis introduce all this, since he has such a long professional relationship with Franklin. The party began with performances by Barry Manilow, Luis Fonsi, Ben Platt, Alicia Keys, Khalid and Logic. Hudson was the last singer to perform. Hudson sang Franklin classics Think, and Respect as part of her performance.

Deadline has been hearing about a Franklin project that MGM is acquiring and will finance. Franklin’s musical legacy spans six decades, from your first recording as a young gospel singer, to her most recent release, A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She has scored countless hits, including the reinvention of Otis Redding’s Respect as a feminist anthem that transformed her into an icon of the civil rights and women’s movements. She is one of the most honored artists in Grammy Award history, and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the NAACP Hall of Fame, the Gospel music Hall of Fame and in 2005 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Producing the film will be Straight Outta Compton‘s Scott Bernstein and music producer Harvey Mason Jr., who has worked with Franklin and also produced music for the film Dreamgirls, on which Hudson won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, alongside Beyonce. Hudson has gone on to a strong career that included the premiere of Monster, which premiered in Sundance.

Hudson seems one of the few actresses with the vocal range to do justice to Franklin’s soaring classics. MGM will move quickly to set a filmmaker and a screenwriter.

I am here for this. Yaas.

Bout time Auntie Re Re woke up from her spell thinking Halle Berry would be a good choice. I love me some Re Re but that was delusional.

Wise choice. that photo!

Musicslave said:

Makes sense. Jennifer has the acting ability and is the only contemporary singer who can handle the songs without having to lip-sync. Congrats! She will do a superb job!!!

Musicslave said:

Bout time Auntie Re Re woke up from her spell thinking Halle Berry would be a good choice. I love me some Re Re but that was delusional.

They don't look alike. Even the Alt Right get that.

Musicslave said:

Bout time Auntie Re Re woke up from her spell thinking Halle Berry would be a good choice. I love me some Re Re but that was delusional.

I know that's right!

I'll be front and center.

All along, I was saying 2 Myself "Either the Queen (Latifah), or J-Hud!!!

woogiebear said:

All along, I was saying 2 Myself "Either the Queen (Latifah), or J-Hud!!!

I think Latifah is too old now to do a young Aretha...but Jennifer certainly isn't! To me it says a lot about the fact that Aretha wanted Halle Berry to portray her originally... Jennifer Hudson is the real deal.

it's gonna be a great bipoic,if they do it right

purplethunder3121 said:

woogiebear said:

All along, I was saying 2 Myself "Either the Queen (Latifah), or J-Hud!!!

I think Latifah is too old now to do a young Aretha...but Jennifer certainly isn't! To me it says a lot about the fact that Aretha wanted Halle Berry to portray her originally... Jennifer Hudson is the real deal.

OK: Have J-Hud play YOUNG Aretha, and THIS is a stretch: Have Comedienne Luenell play Aretha later!!!

MGM should definitley go after Oscar winning screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious) OR KICK-AZZ Oscar winning screenwriter John Ridley (12yrs A Slave)...Two BAD Bruhs that will put their Foot in a Script...

The early stages look very hopeful...Aretha's Blessing, Powerful Studio, Powerful Music Producers, Powerful Oscar winning Actress...We're finally getting some "meat" to get the Bio going...

A lot of Directors get booked in advanced, so MGM needs to focus on a Director and get a commitment..Some Director's are serious Divas and will walk away from a Movie-project like it ain't nothing...The Cast of the Richard Pryor Bio experienced the On again, Off again, On again effect and now there's just silence courtesy of Crazy Lee Daniels...

woogiebear said:

poppys said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

poppys said:

Aretha Franklin · Height

5' 5"

• (1.65 m)

Dammit but still, Lunell lol.