PHOTOSSee Jennifer Hudson Transform Into Aretha Franklin In First Trailer For 'Respect' Biopic
Jennifer Hudson is ready to belt out a tune on the silver screen once again in the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic. The first trailer for the film was released on December 20.
Jennifer, 38, tweeted the teaser and wrote, "Much R.E.S.P.E.C.T to the queen of soul." The clip featured the R&B singer dressed in a slinky gold gown and sporting a short cropped brunette bob as she sang on stage.
The trailer showed Jennifer singing the iconic lyrics of Aretha's hit, "Respect." The Chicago native said into the mic, "What you need/Do you know I got it? All I'm askin'/Is for a little respect."
The musical drama will also star Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Tate Donovan, Audra McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Heather Headley, and Mary J. Blige. The flick will follow Aretha's journey from a child singing in her father’s church choir in Detroit to achieving international stardom.
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The Queen of Soul passed away on August 16, 2018 at the age of 76. Before Aretha died, she handpicked the American Idol alum to play her in the biopic. Her sister-in-law, Cendia Franklin, told RadarOnline.com at the time that the music icon was “very ill” and had been “under the weather for many months" and was under hospice care at the time of her death. Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton, Faith Hill, Chaka Khan and more stars paid tribute to Aretha at her funeral on August 31, 2018.
Harriet star Cynthia Erivo will also be portraying the "Chain of Fools" songstress in National Geographic’s series Genius: Aretha, set to air in May 2020.
This isn't the first time Jennifer has played a soul singer on the big screen. Back in 2006, the Oscar winner portrayed Effie White in the film, Dreamgirls. The musical is considered a film à clef, a work of fiction taking much inspiration from the history of the Motown record label and one of its prime artists, The Supremes. Jennifer won the Oscar in 2007 for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film.
Respect is set to hit theaters on October 9, 2020.
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