*Oprah Winfrey revealed in a new interview that Warner Bros. wanted Beyonce or Rihanna to star in “The Color Purple” movie musical.
“To be completely honest about it, if you were doing this film for $30 or $40 million, the interest in the cast would be very different. Once the film moved to $90 to $100 million, then everybody wants us to bring Beyoncé,” she said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“‘Can you get Beyoncé or can you get Rihanna?’ So we’re sitting in a room saying, ‘Listen, we love Beyoncé. We love Rihanna, but there are other actors who can do this job.’ I do remember conversations about, ‘Y’all, Beyoncé is going to be busy this year.’ It wasn’t even a negotiation, because you’re not getting Beyoncé,” Winfrey continued.
Winfrey serves as a producer on the upcoming film along with Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones.
Directed by Blitz Bazawule, the Golden Globe-nominated movie musical stars Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery and Fantasia as Celie. The ensemble cast includes Danielle Brooks as Sofia, Corey Hawkins as Harpo, singer H.E.R. as Squeak, and Ciara will play Nettie, the younger sister of Celie, Entertainment Weekly reports.
Per the film’s synopsis, “A story of love and resilience, THE COLOR PURPLE is a decades-spanning tale of one woman’s journey to independence. Celie faces many hardships in her life, but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.”
Watch the new trailer via the YouTube clip below.
“I watched several musicals getting ready to make this film, and the best ones were the ones that had a source for their music,” Bazawule, a former Beyoncé collaborator, explained in a new interview. “The best power of musicals is when the music kicks in when the words are not enough.”
He added, “When you cast Fantasia, who is arguably one of the greatest singers of all time, you’ve kind of got the cheat code. You don’t have to do much except let her do her thing.”
“The Color Purple” arrives in theaters on Christmas Day.
READ MORE: Warner Bros. Drops New Trailer for ‘The Color Purple’ | Watch
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