The announcement was made by Oprah Winfrey during the ABC News special Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising. The special was created to highlight Black actresses in America. Winfrey herself played the role of Sofia in the 1985 film adaptation of the novel.
The casting announcement has created a buzz within the artistic world. Fantasia, of American Idol fame, in the 2007 broadway production of The Color Purple and will reprise her role as Celie in the upcoming film. Danielle Brooks, known for her role as Taystee on Orange Is The New Black, will also be reprising her role as Sofia. The movie will be the acting debut of grammy winner H.E.R.
The film has also secured Grammy nominee Halle Bailey to play Nettie. Bailey, who currently acts on Freeform’s Grown-ish, will also be appearing in the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.
Taraji P. Henson, known for her work on Empire and Annie Live!, will be playing Shug Avery. Corey Hawkins of In the Heights will play Harpo. Coleman Domingo, who is currently on Euphoria among many other credits, will play Mister.
The movie will begin filming soon and is set to be released on December 20th, 2023.
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