Written by Kianna Best on Dec 13, 2023. Posted in Production News

The Colour Purple returns to screen as a musical

This Christmas, Alice Walker’s novel meets the screen once again, this time in musical form. Filmed in Georgia, United States, the new adaptation will star Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, Danielle Brooks, H.E.R. and Halle Bailey. Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey return to the story as producer alongside original composer Quincy Jones. The Blitz Bazawule iteration is set for a Christmas Day US release with the UK premiere scheduled for 26 January 2024.

Originally directed by Steven Spielberg, The Colour Purple’s first adaptation saw Whoopi Goldberg taking on the role of Celie Harris and the movie’s nomination for eleven Academy Awards. The 1985 version also saw Oprah Winfrey nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. Winfrey now take a step behind the scenes alongside original director Spielberg and score composer Quincy Jones.

They will also be joined by the producer of the 2005 Broadway adaptation, Scott Sanders. Other executive producers include author Alice Walker and her daughter Rebecca Walker, as well as Adam Fell, Carla Gardini, Mara Jacobs and Kristie Macosko Krieger. Filming for the upcoming The Colour Purple started principal photography in Georgia in March 2022 and wrapped in July of the same year, shooting many key scenes at Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island.

Now, the Alice Walker novel will be revived in musical form, enlisting the help of XFactor contestant Fantasia Barrino as Celie, who also took on the role for the Broadway adaptation. She will be joined by Orand is the New Black’s Danielle Brooks reprising her role as Sofia, Empire’s Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, Euphoria actor Colman Domingo as Albert “Mister” Johnson, The Little Mermaid actress Halle Bailey and Ciara as the older and younger version of Nettie Harris, Louis Gossett Jr., from Roots, as Ol’ Mister Johnson, R&B singer H.E.R. as Mary “Squeak” Agnes, and In Living Colour actor David Alan Grier as Reverend Samuel Avery.

Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Media