NEW First Look Featurette Of ‘Respect’ Starring Jennifer Hudson
Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) has released the official trailer and new poster to 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. The film hits theaters on August 13.
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.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. Tommy is the first Black woman ever nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Direction of a Play in 2016 for Eclipsed, and is an Associate Artist at the Berkeley Rep and an Artist Trustee with the Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees.
With a story by Callie Khouri (Oscar winner for Writing, Thelma & Louise) and Tracey Scott Wilson, and screenplay written by Tracey Scott Wilson. Wilson and Tommy have worked together creatively since the 2009 play The Good Negro written by Wilson, directed by Tommy at The Public Theatre. Wilson was a writer on FX’s The Americans which garnered her a Peabody Award as well as Emmy® and WGA Award nominations.
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.
