Incredible casting. Wow.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
Halle Bailey is Nettie
2023 seems like it will be big year for her.
Halle Bailey is Nettie.
What a cast!
I see this movie more as a Thanksgiving weekend release. There’s just something about it that doesn’t feel so Christmassy to me.
The last minute or so of this clip, is probably one of the best things Spiderwoman has. I hope they can capture Fantasia like this on screen.
Updated On: 2/4/22 at 09:01 PMBroadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
I'd hardly call Brooks and Fantasia a risk.
Leading Actor Joined: 5/15/18
RW3 said: "Halle Bailey is Nettie
2023 seems like it will be big year for her."
At the very least, it will allow her to avoid Mena Massoud syndrome (Headlining a Disney Live-action remake, the vanishing into obscurity for months after it gets released). TLM was filmed in the first half of last year, giving Bailey plenty of time to follow a safe family blockbuster with a more daring and adult musical...
The musical will be directed by Blitz Bazawule (Beyoncé’s Black Is King), and screenplay by Marcus Gardley (The House That Will Not Stand, The Chi). Fantasia as Celie, Colman Domingo as Mister, Haile Bailey as Nettie, Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, Corey Hawkins as Harpo, H.E.R. as Squeak, Danielle Brooks as Sophia.
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/02/oprah-winfrey-the-color-purple-cast-musical/amp
Oh man, I loved Corey Hawkins in ITH, what a talent!
Stand-by Joined: 11/6/21
They are casting old.
Colman Domingo is in EVERYTHING. Damn. He’s incredible.
An incredible cast, now I'm excited. Let's hope they get the direction right on this one.
Stand-by Joined: 3/2/15
Barbara Cook would be delighted; she raved over Fantasia's Broadway Celie.
My God... This casting is FIRE!!!! Already this casting is just as great as West Side Story 2021!
EDSOSLO858 said: "Halle Bailey is Nettie.
What a cast!
I see this movie more as a Thanksgiving weekend release. There’s just something about it that doesn’t feel so Christmassy to me."
I read this quickly as Halle Berry and immediately thought "she's way too old".
I wonder if Fantasia or Brooks had to audition?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
ACL2006 said: "I wonder if Fantasia or Brooks had to audition?"
Based on the videos both of them posted, I would say yes.
I would be shocked if they didn’t screen test Fantasia.
BritCrit said: "At the very least, it will allow her to avoid Mena Massoud syndrome (Headlining a Disney Live-action remake, the vanishing into obscurity for months after it gets released)."
Mena was very candid in a 2019 interview about his life post-Aladdin:
“It’s wild to a lot of people,” he says. “People have these ideas in their head. It’s like, I'm sitting here being like, OK, Aladdin just hit $1 billion. Can I at least get an audition? Like I’m not expecting you to be like, here’s Batman. But can I just get in the room? Like, can you just give me a chance? So it’s not always what you think.”
“I’m usually the wild card.”
“There’s always a wild card or two when you’re casting,” he says. “I’m usually the wild card. In a room of Caucasian guys, a director might be like, OK, let’s see, like, two guys who aren’t. And maybe they’ll be the wild card choice.”
Just got around to seeing this cast list and I AM NOT WELL!!!
Understudy Joined: 12/1/21
everythingtaboo said: "BritCrit said: "At the very least, it will allow her to avoid Mena Massoud syndrome (Headlining a Disney Live-action remake, the vanishing into obscurity for months after it gets released)."
Mena was very candid in a 2019 interview about his life post-Aladdin:
“It’s wild to a lot of people,” he says. “People have these ideas in their head. It’s like, I'm sitting here being like, OK, Aladdin just hit $1 billion. Can I at least get an audition? Like I’m not expecting you to be like, here’s Batman. But can I just get in the room? Like, can you just give me a chance? So it’s not always what you think.”
“I’m usually the wild card.”
“There’s always a wild card or two when you’re casting,” he says. “I’m usually the wild card. In a room of Caucasian guys, a director might be like, OK, let’s see, like, two guys who aren’t. And maybe they’ll be the wild card choice.”"
I don't think that Halle was ever in danger of being in a Mena Massoud situation. She and Rachel Zegler are following the same path to the A-List. Undeniable singing talent plus movie star presence.
What's also helped is that they have prominent industry backers/collaborators.
I'm loving the Fantasia casting choice. Honestly, this cast is THE dream cast.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/19
VERY excited! And the director is really cool so pretty excited!!
Featured Actor Joined: 12/8/15
Tag said: "The last minute of so of this clip, is probably one of the best things Spiderwoman has. I hope they can capture Fantasia like this on screen."
Chills and tears everywhere.
ACL2006 said: "I wonder if Fantasia or Brooks had to audition?"
In a video Oprah posted today, she holds up an iPad with Brooks' audition video/screentest on it.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/17
I'm officially hyped with Fantasia leading as Celie. I'm surprised she would come back to the role after so many years. I missed her at the Hollywood Pantages a decade or so ago.
Videos