Warner Bros.’ remake of “The Color Purple” is shaping up to be an ambitious retelling of the 1985 Steven Spielberg-directed version – a musical starring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Ciara, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, with Oprah Winfrey, who starred in the original film, serving as producer.

The trailer for the upcoming remake of “The Color Purple” has been released

and the musical has received positive reviews.

 

The film is scheduled for a Christmas release.

“The Color Purple” stands out among other fictional stories for its depiction of black women dealing with not-so-noble men during hard times of oppression in the early 20th century.

Fantasia plays Celie, the main protagonist, who endures rape and incest by her father, has her children taken from her, presumably killed, and is sold to another black man only to be abused again.

With such a tragic story that touches on issues of domestic violence, pedophilia, poverty, racism, and sexism, many fans of Fantasia realize that the singer/actress is more than capable of taking on an emotional character and delivering great vocals to boot.

After all, she starred in the Broadway production based on the movie.

Bailey and singer Ciara play younger and older versions of Celie’s sister Nettie. The younger role of Celie goes to up-and-coming actress and writer Phylicia Mpasi.

Brooks, as Sofia, plays the role of Oprah, who also starred in the Broadway production.

The original film, based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel of the same name, also featured A-list names such as Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and Oprah, and was directed by Spielberg and scored by Quincy Jones, both of whom have returned to the project.

“The Color Purple” grossed almost $100 million with a budget of $15 million, and although it did not win a single Academy Award, it was nominated for 11, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress for Whoopi.