It was the Queen of Soul's request that Jennifer Hudson portray her in a biopic.
Aretha Franklin's legacy lives on in Respect, and the first trailer for the biopic has officially revealed Jennifer Hudson as the legendary Queen of Soul.
Respect tells the incredible true story of the music icon’s journey to finding her voice, with a supporting cast that includes Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington, Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin and Tituss Burgess as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland.
Hudson, who won an Oscar for her role in 2006's Dreamgirls, revealed that Franklin handpicked her to star in the story about her life.
"She's an iconic figure that we all love and respect and admire," Hudson said, recalling Franklin came to see her in a production of The Color Purple. "She called me and she was like, 'I made my decision, and it is you I want to play me. But don't you tell anyone.'"
"'Ma'am, I won't say a thing. I'll do whatever you tell me to do,'" she replied, adding of the casting, "I'm still in shock."
Respect is to be released in Jan. 15, 2021.
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