The Color Purplemusical movie has officially castKing Richardstar Aunjanue Ellis. More famously known as the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel by Alice Walker,The Color Purplewas originally published in 1982. The novel quickly became world renowned and resonated deeply with readers across the world for its accurately haunting description of the generational trauma inflicted upon African American women - specifically during the 1900s, in the deep South.
The Color Purplefollows the character of Celie, a poor, un-educated, fourteen-year-old living in rural Georgia. She was forced to assume the role as a housewife from the moment of her conception. Therefore, she was never even given the opportunity of receiving an education and was illiterate as a result. Celie’s abusive father ends up selling her off as a wife to another, somehow, even more abusive man. Celie, despite never receiving formal education, begins to teach herself how to read and write in order to keep in touch with her younger sister, Nettie, as the two become pen-pals.
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She also begins to write letters to god in order to help her heal and release the intense trauma and abuse she has endured throughout her life. Due to the novel’s critical acclaim and success, it quickly became adapted into a feature film in 1985,directed by the iconic Steven Spielberg. However, in 2018 it was suddenly announced that a brand-new film adaptation of the musical version ofThe Color Purplewas officially in development, with Spielberg is set to produce. Now, director Blitz Bazawule took to Twitter to reveal to fans that Ellis has officially joined the cast ofThe Color Purplemusical movie.
According to IMDB, Ellis will be portraying the role of Mama in the film, joiningco-stars Halle Bailey, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, and Corey Hawkins.The Color Purplewill be adapted from the Broadway stage musical version of the story, which earned eleven Tony Award nominations alone in 2006. The upcoming film will also be produced by Scott Sanders and Oprah Winfrey, who starred in the original 1985 flick. The movie will be director Bazawule’s American feature film debut, with the screenplay written by Marcus Gardley.
Warner Brothers Pictures is in charge of the distribution of the movie alongside Amblin Entertainment - both previously collaborated for the first film as well. Due to the story’s critical acclaim and strong fanbase, the film has some big shoes to fill.Winfrey has reassured fansthat she and the producers “were all blown away by Blitz’s unique vision as a director.” Ellis has attracted lots of critical acclaim and attention herself for her role as the mother of the iconic Williams sisters. Now, she will be taking on a similar maternal figure role and will have the chance to debut some of her singing skills inThe Color Purplemusical movie.
The Color Purple(2023) is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 16, 2025.
