Fantasia Joins ‘The Color Purple’ Musical Movie as Celie / Danielle Brooks & Halle Bailey Also Cast

Fantasia is heading to the big screen and it’s in a role that is as familiar as it is seismic.

Because the vocal force has been cast in the lead role of Celie in Warner Bros‘ musical-movie adaptation of ‘The Color Purple.’

And she’s not the only new name to onboard Blitz Bazawule‘s hotly-anticipated revival of the 1985 classic.

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Fantasia will reprise the role she earned rave reviews for in the Broadway adaptation of ‘The Color Purple’ in 2007.

‘Orange is the New Black’ star Danielle Brooks has also been cast; she will reprise her role as Sofia from the 2015 Broadway revival.

Singer Halle Bailey will star as Nettie. The casting in ‘The Color Purple’ comes as she gears up to swim into theaters in the lead role of Ariel in Disney’s live-action remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’ next year.

The trio is joined by actor Colman Domingo, who plays Mister.

Collectively, they add to a roster that includes Taraji P. Henson (Shug Avery), Corey Hawkins (Harpo), and H.E.R.

Check out Fantasia’s reaction to the casting:

Color Purple

As I sit tonight and reflect on the journey my life has taken I believe I now understand what Redemption truly feels like. The last time I stepped into this character, the similarities between what I portrayed on stage and what I experienced in my own reality were too close for comfort. I’ve learned since then that my pain was only an introduction to a greater purpose of meaning and assignment. I hope that every little black girl who is fighting to be heard and recognized also promises to never give up in spite of the costs. Now everyone who has been wondering why I’ve been missing and so quiet can see that I’ve been dedicating all of my time to All Things Purple! (Matthew 20:16)

I’m so excited to be a part of @WBPictures #TheColorPurple with @tarajiphenson, @hallebailey, @daniebb3, @hermusicofficial, @kingofbingo, and Corey Hawkins!

Brooks was informed of her casting alongside during Thursday night’s episode of ‘Soul of a Nation’:

Directed by Blitz Bazawule (who helmed Beyonce’s ‘Black Is King’), the revival of ‘The Color Purple’ follows the 1985 film, which was led by Whoopi Goldberg in the role of Celie. Oprah Winfrey wowed in the role of Sofia and Steven Spielberg served as its director. The latter are both back in the mix as producers.

The story, which is an adaptation of Alice Walker’s 1982 novel, was also given life anew during its reinvention as a Tony Award-winning Broadway production.

‘The Color Purple’ musical movie is currently set to hit theaters on December 23, 2023.

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[Photo Credit: ABC, Getty]