There has been talk of an Aretha Franklin biopic in the works for a few years now but no official announcements of casting or production. In 2011, the Queen of Soul raised eyebrows when she stated hopes of casting Halle Berry to portray her in the film. We are now in 2018 and Clive Davis confirmed at his pre-Grammy party on Saturday night that Franklin handpicked Oscar Award winner Jennifer Hudson to be the leading lady in her life story.
Before Hudson hit the stage to perform some of the Queen of Soul’s classics Davis announced, “When the biopic of the great Aretha Franklin is filmed next year, the artist anointed by Aretha herself to play her is the next performer. Aretha personally told me that last week.”
No release date or other castings have been released, but allegedly MGM will finance the project under Scott Bernstein’s production.
See Hudson’s tribute to Franklin below:
