After a tumultuous few months, things seems to be looking up for Fantasia. For, the American Idol alum has landed a starring role in a new biopic.
Full story after the jump…
The Huffington Post reports:
Fantasia Barrino has had her problems over the past year, but unintentional weight gain is not one of them.
The “American Idol” winner has been seen with extra pounds of late, but she says it’s on purpose — she’s getting into character for a new movie, in which she’ll star as soul singer Mahalia Jackson.
“In fact, she’s just signed on to play the lead in Mahalia and has been told to gain 30 to 45 pounds for the role,” her rep confirmed.
The Euzhan Palcy directed movie begins shooting in April in Chicago and is slated for release at the year’s end. As relates to the story, the film is an adaptation of Jackson’s 1993 autobiography – ‘Got to Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel’.
Penned by James Evering, the big screen flick will chronicle the singer’s life; from her early years in poverty-lashed New Orleans to her rise to stardom. An early and avid advocate for the late, great Martin Luther King Jr, Jackson was also a major supporter of the Civil Rights Movement.
—————————————–
It’s great to see Fantasia pressing on. Smart handling of the project would see her 4th album and the movie promoted in tandem on, for example, the next season of ‘Fantasia For Real’. Either way, it’s quite exciting time to be a Fantasia fan.
32 COMMENTS
Boo!
February 9, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Good to see fantasia back on her feet
[Reply]
justus
February 9, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Im so excited for this.
[Reply]
Lolsmileyface
February 9, 2011 at 4:41 pm
GET IT TASIA!
#lehgo
[Reply]
Travis
February 9, 2011 at 4:43 pm
And she is also on top of the list to play Ms.Aretha Franklin….I love it!!!!!!!
[Reply]
Forreal
February 9, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Congrats! She best do good!
[Reply]
bpleasebelieve
February 9, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Om ok i can see this…so i guess the only one left to play Aretha is Jennifer. Fantasia is going to have to really bring it for this. Mahalia Jackson was a very shrewd business woman who had a lot of dimensions to her that ran pretty deep.
[Reply]
Nichole
February 9, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Tasia is one of the greatest singers in the game, and I heard she killed it playing Celie in The Color Purple, which is one of my all time favorite films.
[Reply]
stan
February 9, 2011 at 5:05 pm
well i hope she’s still going to promote the album….
and i also hope she’ll work with an acting coach to refine her skills.
[Reply]
TEAM KELLY!!! ToTheTop
February 9, 2011 at 5:08 pm
I love this for her!!!!
[Reply]
BEYONSLUT
February 9, 2011 at 5:09 pm
HER ROLE IS TO STAY IN THE ZOO WITH JAY-Z CHRIS BROWN, BEYONCE AND HERSELF! UGLY CREATURE!
NEXT!
[Reply]
HP
February 9, 2011 at 5:21 pm
GO GIRL”””;;;;;; I LIVE A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM HER…..LETS GIT IT [NC]
[Reply]
MISHKA
February 9, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Isn’t she preggers?
[Reply]
Petra
February 9, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Very nice to see her again
http://mydietoptions.com/
[Reply]
Royalkev
February 9, 2011 at 6:56 pm
This girl was unbelievable on broadway in the color purple. After seeing her in that, it’s no doubt in my mind that she can carry this role. I even prefer her acting to J.Huds. I don’t know when they’re set up to start filming, but I keep hearing that Fantasia is with child. I don’t know if it’ll be anytime soon.
*NEW* Check out: Thepagewithroyalkev.blogspot.com (where there’s a place for EVERYTHING and EVERYTHING has it’s place).
[Reply]
Travis
February 9, 2011 at 7:01 pm
She is not with child. She has to gain 45 pounds before she starts filming in april
[Reply]
QT
February 9, 2011 at 7:22 pm
too excited!
[Reply]
Qroro
February 9, 2011 at 8:14 pm
@travis Aretha has already said that Halle Berry will be playing her in her biopic…..horrible choice, i think…but eh *shrugs*
[Reply]
TRUTH IS
February 9, 2011 at 8:41 pm
QRORO, actually Aretha Franklin doesn’t want Halle Berry to play her anymore. So Halle is out!
Fantasia IS NOT pregnant! Her manager confirmed it! He states, “Fantasia is pregannt with prosperity!”
So happy for Fantasia! I know she will do well!! love her!!
@beyonslut YOU ARE DISGUSTING!!!!!Sad excuse for an individual!
[Reply]
Travis
February 9, 2011 at 8:51 pm
QRORO…..Aretha apparently has cane to her senses so therefore it’s between Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson.
[Reply]
The King
February 9, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Go head Fannie!…we love you!!!!…you are a great talent and I know you will do the role justice.
[Reply]
Qroro
February 9, 2011 at 9:26 pm
@Travis where’d you hear this? Aretha said it herself less than two weeks ago…i doubt that much has changed since then, esp when Halle turned the role down at first and aretha has been trying to get her ever since…
[Reply]
Nick
February 9, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Luv me sum fantasia., I’m hoping she wins a Grammy!!
[Reply]
Mely B
February 9, 2011 at 10:11 pm
I hope that the info re Aretha’s change of mind towards Halle portraying her are true! There are so many others who would welcome the challenge of bringing Aretha’s biography to life on film! Jill Scott (good actress, great singer), JHud (so-so actress, great singer), Queen Latifah (great actress, good singer) and yes, even Fantasia could do a better portrayal of Re Re than Halle.
[Reply]
BrandyNMonicaStan
February 9, 2011 at 10:12 pm
I can’t wait for everything Fantasia I know she is going to do Mahalia justice.
[Reply]
~aMaZiNG.Lee~
February 10, 2011 at 12:08 am
YESSSSSS! I cannot wait! Fanny is one of my favorite singers and Lord knows Mahalia Jackson is f*cking AMAZING! Love them both!
[Reply]
nke
February 10, 2011 at 12:57 am
congrats fantasia
[Reply]
TheDimplePuppet
February 10, 2011 at 2:10 am
Finally a perfect casting. Fantasia will own this role. I hope she performs @ the Grammys in Sunday as well…………… Yes Aretha Franklin told Wendy Willams herself that Halle has been picked to play her in a movie but Halle isn’t a bit interested in playing her lmao.
[Reply]
MuzikJunkie!
February 10, 2011 at 2:55 am
Yesss, I LOVE Fantasia and I can’t wait for this movie! And @BeyonSlut get a FUCKIN life and stop being such a hater! But anyways Congrats Tasia!
[Reply]
JoshuaBuzz
February 10, 2011 at 10:05 am
Fantasia’s vocals are, by themselves, too uncontrolled for her to play Mahalia convincingly, since Mahalia’s vocals were always very restrained and controlled (but still v. powerful).
Will be interesting to see if she can tone it down for the movie.
Other than that, Mahalia was a GOSPEL singer. Why label it soul when it wasn’t, she never sung soul or R&B or anything mainstream, it was always plain gospel.
[Reply]
IMO
February 10, 2011 at 10:45 pm
@JOSHUABUZZ
Fantasia can definitely let loose when she wants to, but I think she is very capable of showing restraint and control. Performances like her “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” for Elton John at the Kennedy Center Honors makes me a believer. Summertime could even show those qualities in her.
Speaking of Summertime, Mahalia did sing some Jazz/Blues every once in a while. If you look up her performance of Summertime/Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child, I think you would like it.
[Reply]
larrissa74
February 13, 2011 at 8:17 am
I am excited for her!! You naysayers said the the same thang about The Celie role she played in the The Color Purple,and she nailed it came out on top so there is no doubt in my mind she will blow us away with this Mahalia Jackson role! I am so honored to be a Fantasia fan right now. Haters beware it does’nt stop here there is more to come you cant stop her so shut up an sit down somewhere!!
[Reply]
KMSettles, Washington, DC
April 1, 2011 at 4:32 pm
I wish Fantasia all the blessings of God for her new upcoming role as Mahalia Jackson. I know Fantasia can sing but Mahalia had a deeper voice range. This will be a stretch for Fantasia and proves her range if she pulls it off as planned. I pray she can get all the weight off shortly thereafter. The above picture of Fantasia is classic. May God bless her now and in the future to stay focussed on The Lord Jesus Christ and HIS will for her life!
[Reply]
LEAVE A COMMENT:
That Grape Juice now allows Gravatars! These are the little pictures that show up beside your name when you leave a comment on this blog and probably the rest of the blogs you visit too. Click here to get your own FREE Gravatar account if you haven't already done so.