Taraji P. Henson.Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Taraji P. Hensonis bringing the character of Shug Avery to life once again.
Varietyreports that Marcus Gardley has written the screenplay for the film, specifically adapted from theTony-winningBroadwaymusical — which was based Alice Walker’s 1982 novel — that ran from 2005 to 2008, with a revival that ran from 2015 through early 2017.
According toVariety,Steven Spielberg, who directed the 1985 film, will produce the new version alongsideOprah Winfrey, who made her big-screen debut as Sofia in the first movie. The outlet reports thatThe Color Purplewill be released on Dec. 20, 2023.
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Margaret Avery as Shug Avery inThe Color Purple(1985).Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
The story ofThe Color Purplefollows the lives of several Black women — namely Celie and Nettie Harris, Shug Avery and Miss Millie — in the American South in the 1930s.
The original Broadway musical of the story debuted in 2005 and earned 11 Tony Award nominations a year later, with actressLaChanzewinning a Tony for her role as Celie.
Cynthia Erivoalso played the role of Celie in the 2015 revival, for which she won the Tony Award for lead actress in a musical.
Alongside Winfrey, 68, and Avery, 77, Spielberg’s film adaptation also starredWhoopi GoldbergandDanny Glover. It was nominated for 11Academy Awards, and earned Winfrey a Best Supporting Actress nod.
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Henson has recent experience in musical theater, having played Miss Hannigan for NBC’sAnnie Live!in December.
The Oscar andEmmynominee told PEOPLE in October ofembodying the crooked head of an orphanage, “Playing the villain is always fun. … With Miss Hannigan, there is so much to work with and dig deeper into. It’s just such a fun and iconic character to play.”
As for the live element, theEmpirealum was mostly unfazed. “There’s always some butterflies when it comes to doing live events, but that’s part of the fun,” Henson said. “My roots are in theater, so it’s just a great opportunity to jump back into what I grew up doing and it’s also a challenge, which I find exciting.”
She added, “As an artist, nerves and nervousness is natural. You need that energy: It means you are alive and in the moment. I welcome nervousness because that is energy to use. It is not a bad thing.”
source: people.com
