The Color Purple
Based on the epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction, the Tony Award-winning film 'The Color Purple' originally premiered on February 7, 1986, in the United States. Many would be surprised to learn that the NAACP picketed the Los Angeles premiere on December 18, 1985, due to the film's depiction of rape.
The original film starred Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey, produced by Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones, and others. It garnered significant press and was considered a frontrunner for the Academy Awards that year. The film went on to win Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Whoopi Goldberg), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Margret Avery, Oprah Winfrey), and Best Writing, Screenplay (Menno Meyjes).
Almost three decades later, the critically acclaimed film is returning, produced by Winfrey, Spielberg, Jones, and directed by Blitz Bazawule. It stars Fantasia Barrino as Celie, Colman Domingo as Mister, Taraji P Henson as Mistress Shug, Cory Hawkins as Harpo, and Danielle Brooks as Sofia. Even though Hollywood is sometimes filled with uninspiring money-grabbing remakes that prey on people's nostalgia, Bazawule has promised 'a bold new take on the beloved classic.’
This adaptation appears to strike a clear balance between joyful and challenging moments, a pivotal aspect of reproducing the acclaimed film. Fantasia Barrino, who initially declined the role, citing her happiness and marriage, eventually accepted, stating, "I could let go of every man that’s ever put his hands on me.”
The cast of "The Color Purple" has undertaken an extensive press tour, appearing on shows like Good Morning America, The Jennifer Hudson Show, and The Sherri Shepherd Show. The film has already received two Golden Globes nominations: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for Danielle Brooks and Best Performance by a Female in a Motion Picture for Fantasia Barrino.
"The Color Purple" is set to debut in theaters nationwide on Christmas Day, December 25, 2023.
The Color Purple