Color Purple: The Movie Musical?

[onesongglory2]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:01pm

Oprah to give 'Color Purple' a new shot at Oscars & Globes

Oprah Winfrey's nomination for best supporting actress of 1985 was one of 11 record-setting Oscar bids. "The Color Purple" ended up tying "The Turning Point" as suffering the worst shut-out in Academy Awards history.

When Oprah decided to produce a new musical adaptation for Broadway two years ago, it earned 11 Tony nominations — the same tally as it earned at the Oscars. But it wasn't totally snubbed. It reaped one win for best lead actress LaChanze.

The original film version fared a bit better at the Golden Globes where it had six nominations and one win — for Whoopi Goldberg as best acress.

Yesterday Oprah let slip some news she hadn't planned on announcing while touting the new Denzel Washington movie she produced, "The Great Debaters" during a press conference with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association " A journo asked Oprah if she's planning on making a film of the new musical version of "The Color Purple," much like "Hairspray" and "The Producers" recently went from non-musical screen original to Broadway tuner adaptation to film musical.

Oprah paused awkwardly, held her breath for a second, then blurted out, "Actually, I am." But she offered no further details.

http://goldderby.latimes.com/

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:44pm

oh god.....

"Jennifer Hudson as Celie

Queen Latifah as Sofia

with Sean Combs as Harpo"

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:44pm

PROOF, that "the good Lord works, in mysterious ways"

PLEASE LET THIS BE TRUE!

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:49pm

of course its true...basically we're at the point where every successful broadway show can become a movie, - as the leads are already celebrities to a degree.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:50pm

ps. i didn't necessarily mean that to come out as negatively as it did - lord knows i love me a good movie-musical:)

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 7:05pm

But see this was a theroy of mine LONG before I ever heard it out of scott sanders mouth. The color purple NEEDED to sing. I think this musical is one of many true definitions of shows where when words can no longer fill the space, use music. SING!

I mean, Legally Blonde...what needs to sing about that?

Apples and Oranges here.

Though I don't think it should be a complete star studded cast. Hell, there weren't ANY "names" when the Broadway show first came to town and look how well it's done.

[Deycallmemimi2]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 7:06pm

It will be an all American Idol Cast

Celie-Fantasia
Sophia-Jennifer Hudson
Nettie-Latoya London

[thejcm]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 7:10pm

If this happens soon enough Fantasia probably will play Celie. And I personally hope so. I love, love, love what she does with the songs and to have her "I'm Here" preserved forever would be awesome.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 8:12pm

Heres my thoughts:

1.You go Oprah. This could work. And I mean SERIOUSLY work and blow up that box office.

2. I could totes see Oprah turning on the Blackberry and getting the A-Listers to sing on. I.E. Fantasia, J-Hud,Queen, Denzel, etc.

3.The only thing that could hold this back. Fantasia, J-Hud and Queen ALL have recording contracts...

3. But to have J-Hud singing "HELL NO!" on a CD forever...I'd Love.

And like someone above said. I'm all for a GOOD movie musical.

[Kavana]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 8:24pm

will never happen

[folkyboy]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 8:37pm

i think it could work

[Deycallmemimi2]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 9:18pm

I think Queen could pull off Shug Avery, with Denzel as Mister.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 9:38pm

Wouldn't Queen Latifah be better for Sofia with Jennifer Hudson as Shug?

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:11pm

I'd like to see this happen.

[harris007]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:20pm

$10 says it will be for tv

[lakezurich]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:23pm

I really hope this happens!!

And to all of you who say that this is not going to happen think about this: Oprah is one of the richest and most influential women in the world. I mean, I was scared when I saw TCP that if I didn't like it Oprah would send her henchmen after me. And besides, she has sooo much freaking money she could make anything she wanted to happen come to fruition.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:28pm

The Supreme Oprah does what she wants. She controls the WORLD!

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:28pm

Jamie Fox as Mister
Queen Latifah as Sophia
Jennifer Hudson as Nettie
Fantasia as Shug Avery
Morgan Freeman as Old Mister
and introducing
LaChanze as Celie

Kinda stumped on a Harpo...

[hilltop]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:35pm

If Oprah wants this to happen, it will happen. And all of black Hollywood will be gunning to be a part of it.

As for Queen Latifah, she recently told Vibe magazine that the Color Purple producers offered her the role of Sophia and she declined:

//Is it true that you will be joining the cast of The Color Purple as Sofia?
I was offered the role, but I'm not going to be doing it. I can't fit it right now; it's not a good time for me.//

I'm sure Queen would find the time for a movie version.

Obviously, Fantasia would play Celie.

JHud as Shug? Please. She's completely wrong for the role. But it would be amusing to see her scrambling to play second fiddle to Fantasia. Who would have thunk it? lmao

There are a number of great actresses who could play Shug.

BTW, Oprah recently stated that she wants "I'm Here" to be an anthem for girls around the world. What Oprah wants, Oprah gets. Updated On: 12/5/07 at 10:35 PM

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:38pm

It could happen, but I don't know. I would love J-Hud as Sophia!

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:52pm

As much as i'd LOVE to see her in the film, a part of me hopes J-Hud avoids another movie-musical at all costs.

I want her to prove herself as an ACTRESS onscreen, rather than a SINGING actor onscreen.

Not to say anythings wrong with that at ALL, but you know. Pigeonholing an Oscar winner... it'll happen!

[Deycallmemimi2]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 11:16pm

What about Will Smith as Harpo?

[jaesdare]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 11:43pm

I think Taye Diggs or Terrence Howard would be amazing as Harpo! I think Angela Bassett would be fierce as Shug.(oh if halle berry could sing)
I would cast myself as young Nettie hahahha

I think if this happened Oprah would take all the necessary measures to make it amazing, including casting amazing people, and picking a great creative team to write a better script. I have so much faith in Oprah and everything she does!

I hope they bring back that song that Shug sings in the movie-- Sister, you've been on mind. Sister we're 2 of a kind.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 11:50pm

I want Audra McDonald to be in this though! Maybe as Shug Avery?? Nettie! She can totally be Nettie.

[DG]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 12:58am

I smell a hit in the making.

And it would be with at least a little of my money.