H.E.R. attends the BET Awards 2021 at Microsoft Theater on June 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
(Picture: Getty Images for BET)Soulful R&B singer multiple Grammy Award winner and Academy Award winner, H.E.R. is now branching into new outlets as she lands her first acting role in Hollywood in one of the most sought-after upcoming films.
The artist will be a part of the film adaptation of the classic Tony Award-winning musical, The Color Purple.
The Hollywood Reporter exclusively revealed that H.E.R. is in final negotiations to star in the upcoming film adaptation of one of Broadway’s most influential and iconic musicals ever.
The artist will reportedly play Squeak (originally played by Rae Dawn Chong in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film adaptation), a juke joint waitress who hopes to become a singer.
The Color Purple is in the pre-production stage as casting is still in progress. H.E.R. is also working alongside the filmmakers to create and perform an original song for the musical score.
H.E.R. is no stranger to penning songs for films. She won an Academy Award for Best Song at this year’s ceremony for the track “Fight For You,” which was in the film Judas And The Black Messiah.
Steven Spielberg’s 1985 take on the multiple Academy Award-nominated “The Color Purple” is still widely acclaimed to this day.
This adaptation featured The View commentator and moderator Whoopi Goldberg as the leading character Celie. Also, it marked the film debut of media mogul Oprah Winfrey as Sofia, who earned an Oscar nomination.
Blitz Bazawule will direct the new adaptation with a screenplay written by Marcus Gardley, which is adapted from playwright Marsha Norman’s book and Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray’s score.
The Color Purple is slated to be released during the holidays on 20th December, 2023.
