What to Know About the 2023 Musical Remake of 'The Color Purple'
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The 1985 film adaptation of the novel The Color Purple is seared in the minds and hearts of many as a powerful telling of the lives of Black women in the southern United States and the men who have harmed them. The book has also been adapted into a stage production that has been performed on Broadway, and on Christmas Day 2023, original star Oprah Winfrey and original director Steven Spielberg, both of whom are serving as producers, will bring that musical adaptation to the big screen.
While speaking to the audience at CinemaCon in April 2022, Winfrey noted that starring in the original film "was the biggest and most important thing that happened to me." Audiences and readers alike are looking forward to the upcoming adaptation, and are curious about how it will be similar to, and different from, the original film.
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Here is everything to know about the upcoming The Color Purple remake.
When is The Color Purple release date?
The new remake of The Color Purple will be released on Dec. 25, 2023.
What is the plot of The Color Purple?
Based on both the book by Alice Walker and its Broadway adaptation, the story follows a woman named Cecile as she navigates personal and intergenerational trauma, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse, while growing up in rural Georgia. Throughout the story, Cecile writes a series of letters to God through which she reveals the inner workings of her mind as she attempts to rise above what she's been given.
The Color Purple also follows the story of Cecile's sister Nettie, who is believed to have run away, and Sofia, the ex-wife of Cecile's stepson, as well as Shug, her husband's mistress. The book, 1985 film, and the stage adaptation all tell the stories of these women and how the love they have for each other shapes their lives.
Is The Color Purple based on a book?
Alice Walker's novel The Color Purple was published in 1982. It has gone on to become one of the most challenged books of all time, frequently being placed on banned books lists.
Walker has spoken at length about the reaction to her book. In 2021, she told The Root, "It’s not a pleasant feeling to be attacked for expressing the truth of your life, basically. This is how I, at the time, wanted to share what I understood of reality. And it was actually surprising and in some ways shocking that people were so afraid of it."
She continued, "I was surprised that people didn’t understand the compassion I feel for Black men. It was so interesting, but then I realized that they didn’t read the books. And that helped. I said, ‘Oh, they didn’t read them.’ And I think that’s true and it’s unfortunate."
Walker has also been open about the fact that characters in the book are based on members of her family—including herself. As she put it in a 2016 interview with Early Bird Books, "I think I'm kind of everyone! I really do of course love Shug, and of course Celie, of course Sophia, and I really do love Mister. When I see the play it is truly Mister that I hug the longest and deepest. In some ways he has been the most abused because it took him so long to free himself."
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How is the new The Color Purple different from the 1985 classic?
The new The Color Purple differs from the 1985 movie in a number of key ways. First, the cast is obviously different, and the 2023 version will bring many fresh faces to the story.
The 2023 adaptation is also based on the Broadway play and is a musical, and both movie versions are based on the book.
Who's in The Color Purple cast?
The new movie stars many familiar faces. These include:
Fantasia Barrino (Cecile Harris Johnson)
American Idol alum Fantastia Barrino, who many might know by her first name alone, stars as the protagonist, Cecile Harrison Johnson.
Taraji P. Henson (Shug Avery)
Henson plays Shug in the movie, eventual love interest of Cecile.
Halle Bailey (Nettie Harris)
The Little Mermaid's Halle Bailey stars in the movie as the young version of Nettie Harris, Cecile's sister.
Danielle Brooks (Sofia)
Brooks plays Sofia, Harpo's wife and Cecile's friend.
Colman Domingo (Mister)
Domingo will play Mister, who was known as Albert in the original film. He is the abusive husband of Cecile.
Ciara (Nettie Harris)
Ciara joins the cast as the adult Nettie Harris.
Corey Hawkins (Harpo Johnson)
Hawkins will play Harpo, the first husband of Sofia and Cecile's stepson.
H.E.R. (Squeak)
H.E.R. joins the cast as Squeak, the only character in the book and the original film who is biracial.
When was The Color Purple filmed?
Filming for the 2023 version of The Color Purple began in March 2022.
Where was The Color Purple filmed?
Filming locations include Driftwood Beach at Jekyll Island.
Is there a trailer for The Color Purple?
The first trailer for The Color Purple was released on May 22, 2023.
Who is making the new The Color Purple?
Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg are producing the new film, and Blitz Bazawule is directing.
