Exclusive: Liesl Tommy on directing Jennifer Hudson in Aretha Franklin biopic Respect
Now playing in theaters from director Tommy Liesl the feature film RESPECT, based on the life of music icon Aretha Franklin and starring Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson. Following the rise of Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of Aretha Franklin’s journey to find her voice.
Hudson, who was personally hand-picked by Franklin to play her in the film, is joined by a stellar cast of stars including Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy-winner Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin; Marlon Wayans as Ted White; Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winner Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin; Multiple Grammy winning, and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington; Marc Maron as Jerry Wexler; Emmy-nominee Tituss Burgess as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland; Tony-nominee Saycon Sengbloh as Erma Franklin; Tony-nominee Hailey Kilgore as Carolyn Franklin, Tony winner Heather Headley as Clara Ward, Tate Donovan as John Hammond and Skye Dakota Turner as Young Aretha Franklin.
Liesl Tommy is a Tony nominated, award-winning international theater director making her feature directorial debut with the highly-anticipated film Respect. Among her most recognized work is the Broadway play Eclipsed by Danai Gurira starring Lupita Nyong’o. Along with earning Tommy the distinction of being the first Black woman ever nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Direction of a Play, Eclipsed also made history as the first Broadway production to have an entirely all-female cast and creative team. Tommy will direct the musical adaptation of The Outsiders, based on S.E. Hinton’s beloved novel. On the features side, Tommy is set to direct the film adaptation of Born a Crime, based on Trevor Noah's best-selling memoir, with Lupita Nyong'o attached to star.
BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales caught up with Tommy as she spoke about directing her first feature film with Jennifer Hudson and on the life of the legendary Ms. Franklin.