Aretha Franklin Biopic ‘Respect’ Moves From December To MLK Weekend For Wide Release
Deadline is reporting that in the wake of the great response from Jennifer Hudson’s performance of Aretha Franklin’s “Young, Gifted & Black” on the BET Awards and the 60-second trailer that followed, MGM/United Artists Releasing is now going wide with its biopic “Respect” about the legendary performer on January 15, 2021, MLK weekend. The all-in move shows how much confidence they have in the film’s commercial potential.
Previously, the studio was planning to platform the movie, with a limited Christmas Day debut, an expansion January 8 and full-on wide release January 15. Also, having an extension to the Oscar-qualifying period (to the end of February) helps.
The first authorized feature film based on Franklin’s life, RESPECT is directed by Tony-nominee Liesl Tommy (Broadway’s Eclipsed) and is written by Emmy-nominee Tracey Scott Wilson (The Americans, Fosse / Verdon).
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;Marlon Wayans; Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winner Audra McDonald; Multiple Grammy winning, and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee Mary J. Blige; Marc Maron; Emmy-nominee Tituss Burgess; Tony-nominee Saycon Sengbloh; Tony-nominee Hailey Kilgore, Tate Donovan, and Skye Dakota Turner.
The producers are Scott Bernstein(Straight Outta Compton) and multiple Grammy nominated producer Harvey Mason Jr. (Dreamgirls), who has produced music for both Aretha Franklin and Jennifer Hudson.
The film will exclusively feature the iconic songs: Respect; I Say A Little Prayer; Think; (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman; You’ve Got A Friend; Dr. Feelgood; Do Right Woman, Do Right Man; Spanish Harlem; and Young, Gifted and Black. The film will also feature Ain’t No Way; Precious Lord; There’s A Fountain Filled With Blood; Amazing Grace; and Chain of Fools.
