Taraji P. Henson is adding to her busy slate. According to Variety, the Oscar nominated actress is set to star as Shug Avery in Warner Bros.’ previously announced new adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical “The Color Purple,” an adaptation itself of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
Blitz Bazawule (“The Burial of Kojo,” “Black is King”) is set to direct, while Marcus Gardley’s (“The Chi”) screenplay draws from Walker’s novel, Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film version, and the stage musical.
“The Color Purple” charts 40 years in the life of an African-American woman, Celie, documenting her traumas, growth, and bravery — when Shug comes into her life, she becomes a confidant and source of strength to the other woman. The role of Shug was previously portrayed by Margaret Avery in Spielberg’s 1985 film, and Jennifer Hudson, Michelle Williams, Heather Headley, Elisabeth Withers, Angela Robinson and Nicola Hughes in productions of the stage musical. Henson joins Corey Hawkins (“In the Heights”) and Oscar- and Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. among the cast — casting for the role of Celie has not yet been announced.
Producers on the project include Oprah Winfrey, who joins under her Harpo Films banner, Spielberg, and Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones, both of whom produced the Broadway musical. Alice Walker herself is among the film’s exec producers.
Henson’s most recent roles include musical special “Annie Live.” The “Empire” alum was nominated for an Oscar for her supporting role in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and went on to star in “Person of Interest,” “Hidden Figures,” and “Proud Mary.” In 2020, she launched her own production company, TPH Entertainment, under whose banner she is producing projects such as fantasy graphic novel adaptation “Sorcerority.”
Walker became the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, which she was awarded in 1982 for “The Color Purple.” An author of novels, short stories, and poetry, her other works include “In Love & Trouble,” “The Third Life of Grange Copeland,” and poetry collection “Once.” She was the subject of documentary film “Beauty in Truth,” from director Pratibha Parmar.
