RESPECT Movie: It Starts in the Church and Ends in the Church
They say good things come to those who wait. The MGM Aretha Franklin biopic, RESPECT, has certainly done its fair share of waiting.
After almost a year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RESPECT, starring Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul herself, hits the theatres in August 2021.
Following the rise of Aretha 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 the music icon’s journey to find her voice.
RESPECT Trailer Debut
Yesterday, Team Jesus Magazine, along with other media outlets, had the honor of watching the unveiling of the new, official RESPECT trailer with the amazing Jennifer Hudson and RESPECT Director, Liesl Tommy.
“This is a movie of a woman with the most brilliant voice in the world… trying to find her voice“, said Tommy, who was intentional about not only presenting Aretha Franklin’s icon or legend status, but most importantly her story as a human being. 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.
After being handpicked by Aretha Franklin to portray her in a biopic, Jennifer Hudson immersed herself in the experience and the training. On learning how to play the piano for the role, Hudson joked, “Aretha sent me back to music school!” Yet, Franklin’s musical influence wasn’t the only thing Jennifer Hudson learned, as she shared, “Aretha Franklin taught me more about life while schooling me on how to play her life.”
Find out what respect really means when RESPECT hits the theaters August 13, 2021!
About RESPECT Movie
Cast: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Tate Donovan, Heather Headley, Skye Dakota Turner, and Mary J. Blige
DIRECTOR: Liesl Tommy
WRITTEN BY: Tracey Scott Wilson
PRODUCERS: Scott Bernstein, Harvey Mason Jr.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Stacy Sher, Sue Baden-Powell, Aaron L. Gilbert, and Jason Cloth
Instagram: @RespectMovie
Twitter: @RespectMovie
Facebook: @RespectFilm
