Taraji P. Henson to star as Shug Avery in ‘The Color Purple’ movie musical
nypost.comstar as Shug Avery in a new film adaption of the Broadway musical “The Color Purple,” based in Alice Walker’s 1982 novel, according to Variety.
The Warner Bros. movie will be directed by Blitz Bazawule, who is known for his skills on Beyoncé’s “Black is King” production.The “Empire” actress will join stars H.E.R.
and Corey Hawkins for the film. Hawkins will play the role of Harpo, while H.E.R. will portray Squeak.The story follows a teen named Celie as she tries to live her life as an African American in the South during the early to mid-1900s.The book was adapted for film by Steven Spielberg in 1985.
In that version, Margaret Avery played Shug Avery, a jazz and blues singer who befriends Celie, who was performed by Whoopi Goldberg.A-listers such as Jennifer Hudson, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Holliday, Heather Headley, Elisabeth Withers, Angela Robinson and English actor Nicola Hughes have acted in the musical at various occasions onstage.Oprah Winfrey is at the helm to produce the new film via her Harpo Productions company.
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