Halle Bailey and Fantasia Barrino stole the spotlight this Monday as they were introduced in the first trailer for the much-awaited musical rendition of “The Color Purple.” The upcoming film is a fresh take on the 1985 classic, an adaptation of Alice Walker’s iconic novel.
In the trailer, Bailey’s character, young Nettie, proclaims, “Dear Celie, we are more than just kings and queens. We are at the center of the universe.”
The film is a significant milestone for Barrino, an “American Idol” victor, marking her first foray into many cinemas. Returning to familiar territory, she reprises the role of Celie, a character she portrayed in the original 2007 Broadway adaptation – the film serves as a silver screen adaptation of this stage production.
The Broadway musical’s famous song underscores the trailer, “I’m Here,” and features glimpses of the main cast, which includes not only Bailey and Barrino but also Taraji P. Henson, H.E.R, Colman Domingo, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Corey Hawkins and Danielle Brooks.
Brooks, known for her Tony-nominated role as Sofia, is back in the same position she brilliantly portrayed in the 2015 Broadway revival alongside Cynthia Erivo and Jennifer Hudson.
Warner Bros. describes the reboot as a “bold new interpretation of the beloved classic” as it narrates the tale of Black women and their challenges in the early 1900s Southern America.
Oprah Winfrey, who starred as Sofia in the original Spielberg-directed film and received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal, is a producer for the 2023 rendition. Spielberg is also a producer on the remake, with Blitz Bazawule at the helm as director.
In April, Winfrey graced the CinemaCon stage in Las Vegas to preview the film, recounting how the 1985 film “was the biggest and most important thing that happened to me” and that it still has “great personal significance.”
Scheduled for a Christmas Day release, “The Color Purple” is a Warner Bros. Pictures production, a sibling company of CNN under the Warner Bros. Discovery umbrella.
As fans eagerly await this Christmas Day release, the first trailer offers a tantalizing glimpse of what promises to be a remarkable cinematic experience. The ensemble cast, led by the talented Halle Bailey and Fantasia Barrino, will seek to breathe new life into a tale that continues to resonate deeply within our culture. While staying true to the spirit of Alice Walker’s groundbreaking novel, this new interpretation of “The Color Purple” is set to captivate audiences and inspire a new generation.
