Audra as Aretha?

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 6:23am

In the new issue of Rolling Stone, Aretha Franklin mentions that she is in negotiations for her own biopic.

"She even has someone in mind for the lead role: Audra McDonald, who won a Tony for portraying Billie Holiday in Lady Day. 'It would be her job to bring it home,' Franklin says. 'The question is whether she has that ability.'"

Seems weird to namecheck the person you want, but also question whether they have the chops for it. But anyway, another potential project for Audra.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 6:58am

Aretha's always been like that. I think it comes out worse than she hears it in her head.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 7:09am

As much as I love me some Aretha she has the tendency to come off extremely full of herself.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 12:49pm

Aretha is very full of Aretha. She has the right to some pride, but she doesn't live in reality. Her voice is going fast and she doesn't have to be so damn nasty (and she is quite rude). She'd be lucky to have Audra play her. My guess is Aretha prefers someone to lipsync, as she originally wanted Halle Berry. Aretha doesn't want anyone overshadowing her vocals, or taking the focus off Aretha.

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 1:02pm

Does BWW reward me somehow for giving them news they can repurpose as though they found it themselves?!

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 2:21pm

It's Aretha so I didn't even feel the shade until I read it again and separated the words from her. I'm also not entirely convinced that Audra could do it, but I said the same thing about Billie Holiday and I was wrong, wrong wrong, so who knows.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 2:23pm

My guess is Aretha prefers someone to lipsync, as she originally wanted Halle Berry.

Okay, Auntie 'Re-re is delusional if she thinks anyone would even buy that casting!

[theeatah]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 6:36pm

Audra McDonald is too old for the part unless it's principally about the Arista era.

There's an interesting movie/mini-series to be made of the recent RESPECT biography but something tells me that won't happen for at least another 10-15 years.

In the meantime, anyone who wants to enjoy the Aretha we all know and... in whom we have an interest, should check out the comedy/documentary series Got2BReal on youtube.

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 6:44pm

"Audra McDonald is too old for the part unless..."

Yeah, with knowing the scope of the biopic, it would be difficult to know whether Audra was appropriate.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 12/16/14 at 9:21pm

Aretha talked about Audra in that interview where she threw shade at Taylor Swift, while sitting there looking like a full of herself shar pei dog.