*Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones and Scott Sanders, who produced the Broadway version of “The Color Purple” are all collaborating once more to produce a movie-musical alongside Steven Spielberg.
“We’re really excited to create a film that translates the heart and emotion we found in telling this generational story on stage,” Sanders told THR. “This is an incredibly powerful drama that needs to be shared.”
As most of you know, Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” started out as a book then became a movie in 1985 that was nominated for 11 Oscars but infamously bagged ZERO wins that year. A musical version of the book/movie first hit Broadway in 2005 and also received 11 Tony Award nominations.
OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Jermaine Dupri Slams Rihanna and Jay-Z for Super Bowl Boycotts
“When I lay me down to sleep, I will say my prayer that God love me so deep, He will promise our souls to keep together.” #FanArt (?: wirtless / Instagram) pic.twitter.com/Ugnc4qlDVV
— The Color Purple (@BwayColorPurple) July 26, 2018
As noted by THR:
The triumph-over-adversity story follows the decades-spanning tale of a black woman named Celie, who grows up in intense poverty in the American South and endures harsh treatment from her stepfather, husband and others in her life, which tests her faith in God and humankind.
Walker won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, becoming the first black woman to do so. Whoopi Goldberg starred as Celie in Spielberg’s movie, which earned 11 Oscar nominations. Winfrey, making her feature acting debut, also earned a nomination.
The 2016 revival of the musical starred Cynthia Erivo and won two Tonys, including best musical revival, as well as a Grammy and an Emmy.
The movie-musical is in the early stages of development and no casting decisions have been made.
Meanwhile, tbo.com has listed the FIVE THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE COLOR PURPLE… get into it below.
- Aside from the 11 Oscar nominations, the other big notable Academy Award quirk was that Spielberg wasn’t nominated for Best Director. It was the only Best Picture nominee that year not to be nominated for Best Director.
- Book author Alice Walker was convinced about Spielberg directing when she saw E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and decided that E.T. was treated like “a person of color.”
- Goldberg won the part of Celie by auditioning for Spielberg as a stoned E.T. getting arrested in Oakland for possession. Her audition was attended by Jones and Michael Jackson.
- Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross were considered for the role of Shug Avery.
- Walker was reportedly horrified with the finished movie but changed her mind at the premiere of the film when it was greeted enthusiastically by the audience. She has told interviewers she now likes the movie, but considers it a different story than the one portrayed in her book.
Source: IMDB.com
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
