2024 marks the 40th anniversary of one of my favorite entries in my favorite franchise: the Friday the 13th sequel Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter – and to mark the occasion, the folks at Gutter Garbs are selling a very cool Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter T-shirt! An image of the shirt can be seen at the bottom of this article, and it’s available for pre-order at This Link. Shirts are expected to ship out around May 5th. They’ll only be selling it for a limited time, so if you want it, get your order in.
Directed by Joseph Zito from a screenplay by Barney Cohen (with Bruce Hidemi Sakow receiving story credit), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter has the following synopsis: The body count continues in this vivid thriller, the fourth — and final? — story in the widely successful Friday the 13th series. Jason, Crystal Lake’s least popular citizen,...
Directed by Joseph Zito from a screenplay by Barney Cohen (with Bruce Hidemi Sakow receiving story credit), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter has the following synopsis: The body count continues in this vivid thriller, the fourth — and final? — story in the widely successful Friday the 13th series. Jason, Crystal Lake’s least popular citizen,...
- 4/12/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Marlon Wayans has been set to play the greatest athlete of all time in Jordan Peele’s currently unscheduled sports horror ‘Goat.’
Based on a pitch by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, the project centres on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
Justin Tipping is on board to direct. Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper and Jamal Watson are producers. Executive producers are David Kern and Kate Oh. Universal EVP Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the studio.
Also in news – Laurence Fishburne joins cast of ‘The Witcher’ for Season 4
Screen testing is currently underway for the character of the young athlete, according to executives on the movie, Wayans was always first choice to play the older great athlete.
Wayans recently starred as George Raveling in Prime Video’s ‘Air’ alongside Matt Damon,...
Based on a pitch by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, the project centres on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
Justin Tipping is on board to direct. Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper and Jamal Watson are producers. Executive producers are David Kern and Kate Oh. Universal EVP Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the studio.
Also in news – Laurence Fishburne joins cast of ‘The Witcher’ for Season 4
Screen testing is currently underway for the character of the young athlete, according to executives on the movie, Wayans was always first choice to play the older great athlete.
Wayans recently starred as George Raveling in Prime Video’s ‘Air’ alongside Matt Damon,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Exclusive: For their sports horror pic Goat, Universal Pictures and Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw banner looked to have found the actor to play their greatest of all time athlete as Deadline is hearing Marlon Wayans is set to star in in the pic. Justin Tipping is on board to direct the pic which is produced by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, and Jamal Watson. Executive producers are David Kern and Kate Oh.
The project, based on a pitch by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
While execs have taken the screen testing route for finding the young athlete character, sources say Wayans was always top of the studio’s list for its titular character. Exec Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the Studio.
The project, based on a pitch by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, centers on a promising young athlete who is invited to train with a team’s retiring star.
While execs have taken the screen testing route for finding the young athlete character, sources say Wayans was always top of the studio’s list for its titular character. Exec Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the Studio.
- 1/15/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
A judge awarded Aretha Franklin’s sons the singer’s real estate after reviewing a handwritten 2014 will that was found between couch cushions, Associated Press reports.
The new decision comes four months after a jury decided that the document was valid despite being hard to read. The will was signed with the letter “A” and a smiley face. The handwritten document overrides a will from 2010 that was found in 2019.
The decision was a major victory for Franklin’s youngest son, Kecalf, who had been arguing in favor of the document...
The new decision comes four months after a jury decided that the document was valid despite being hard to read. The will was signed with the letter “A” and a smiley face. The handwritten document overrides a will from 2010 that was found in 2019.
The decision was a major victory for Franklin’s youngest son, Kecalf, who had been arguing in favor of the document...
- 11/28/2023
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
1984 was a good year for slashers. Not only did Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) claw his way onto the big screen for the first time, Jason Voorhees (Ted White) also burst through windows and slashed through teens in the franchise high Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. While Wes Craven was releasing his genre-defining classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, another iconic killer was crawling out of a snow-lined chimney. Charles E. Sellier Jr.’s Silent Night, Deadly Night treated audiences to Billy Chapman (Robert Brian Wilson), an ax-wielding mad-man dressed as a sinister Santa Claus. This exploitative film quickly sparked controversy from horrified parents worried that their children might glimpse the jolly gift-giver dishing out bloody punishment instead of holiday cheer. An avalanche of pearl-clutching soon followed, including angry letters and protests eventually resulting in Tri-star pulling the film after only a few weeks. Despite this chilly reaction, the film...
- 11/27/2023
- by Jenn Adams
- bloody-disgusting.com
It’s Friday the 13th, and what better day could there be to compile a list like Friday the 13th Movies Ranked? While this list is all in good fun, I have to admit that I found it to be surprisingly difficult to put together. That’s because the Friday the 13th franchise is my favorite of all franchises and I love every one of these films. Ranking them was like trying to rank my major internal organs. Some may work better than others, but I need them all! I struggled to decide which order to put them in, and ended up listing them based on which ones I would most like to watch at any given time. So here they are, listed from “Yes, put that movie on right now!” to “Sure, okay, let’s watch it.” Check it out, then let us know how you would rank the...
- 10/13/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
In the pantheon of horror movie villains, few have attained the same level of recognition as Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise. But behind the iconic hockey mask and machete lies the legacy of an actor who brought the character to life — Ted White. With his towering physique and menacing presence, White embodied the essence of Voorhees. From his physicality to his intensity, White’s portrayal of Jason brought a new dimension to the character. His attention to detail and commitment to his craft set a high standard for future Jasons to follow. So, let’s explore Ted White’s captivating...
- 9/1/2023
- by Ima Whyte
- TVovermind.com
In 1984, Jason Voorhees (Ted White) finally met his end in Joseph Zito's "Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter." He was finally dead. In 1991, Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) finally met his end in Rachel Talalay's "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare." He was finally dead. In 1993, Jason Voorhees met his end again in Adam Marcus' "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday." He was finally dead again. In 1994, Freddy Krueger finally met his end again in "Wes Craven's New Nightmare." He was finally dead again.
The two monsters were once again somehow alive to face off in Ronny Yu's excitable 2003 battle royale "Freddy vs. Jason," a film that felt like it came too late to bank on the popularity of the characters, but that was a massive hit nonetheless. Longtime fans of 1980s slasher movies were eager to see two of the most popular monsters of its heyday (played...
The two monsters were once again somehow alive to face off in Ronny Yu's excitable 2003 battle royale "Freddy vs. Jason," a film that felt like it came too late to bank on the popularity of the characters, but that was a massive hit nonetheless. Longtime fans of 1980s slasher movies were eager to see two of the most popular monsters of its heyday (played...
- 8/15/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
With their psychological cosmic sci-fi thriller Fort Solis releasing in a few weeks, developer Fallen Leaf and Dear Villagers have released an all new gameplay trailer. The short-but-sweet trailer showcases the eerie setting of Fort Solis, while also offering quick glimpses of the game’s mechanics.
“We wanted Fort Solis to tell a story through a mix of interactivity and artistry,” said James Tinsdale, Game Director at Fallen Leaf. “Using state of the art mo-cap performances, high fidelity Unreal Engine 5 graphics, music by legendary composer Ted White, and our all-star cast of professional actors, we sought to create a truly immersive experience that grounds players in this sci-fi mystery. With our cinematic ‘story-first’ approach, we wanted to distill the essence of a sci-fi thriller into a format that anyone can play, including non-gamers.”
Dear Villagers aimed to have Fort Solis ground players in its hard sci-fi drama with no camera cuts,...
“We wanted Fort Solis to tell a story through a mix of interactivity and artistry,” said James Tinsdale, Game Director at Fallen Leaf. “Using state of the art mo-cap performances, high fidelity Unreal Engine 5 graphics, music by legendary composer Ted White, and our all-star cast of professional actors, we sought to create a truly immersive experience that grounds players in this sci-fi mystery. With our cinematic ‘story-first’ approach, we wanted to distill the essence of a sci-fi thriller into a format that anyone can play, including non-gamers.”
Dear Villagers aimed to have Fort Solis ground players in its hard sci-fi drama with no camera cuts,...
- 8/3/2023
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
A Michigan jury has decided that a document written by Aretha Franklin and found in her couch after her 2018 death is a valid will, The Detroit Free Press reports.
The decision is a major victory for Franklin’s youngest son, Kecalf, who’d been arguing in favor of the couch document’s validity as it seemed to suggest the Queen of Soul — who did not leave a formal will — wanted him to assume control over her estate. While Kecalf had the support of his brother, Edward (Franklin’s second-oldest son...
The decision is a major victory for Franklin’s youngest son, Kecalf, who’d been arguing in favor of the couch document’s validity as it seemed to suggest the Queen of Soul — who did not leave a formal will — wanted him to assume control over her estate. While Kecalf had the support of his brother, Edward (Franklin’s second-oldest son...
- 7/11/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
We here at Arrow in the Head are making an effort to keep track of the best horror movies that are available on various streaming services, and today we’ve set our sights on the Hulu service. We’ve looked over what they have to offer, put together a list of ten of the Best Horror Movies on Hulu Right Now, and you can check our picks out below!
Carrie (1976)
The first Stephen King adaptation also ranks highly as one of the best. Director Brian De Palma and screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen brought King’s story to the screen with a great script and great style, with Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie turning in Oscar-nominated performances as telekinetic teen Carrie and her horrendous mother. Carrie is bullied at school and has an awful home life. We care about her, we want to see things get better for her. But good things are not to be.
Carrie (1976)
The first Stephen King adaptation also ranks highly as one of the best. Director Brian De Palma and screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen brought King’s story to the screen with a great script and great style, with Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie turning in Oscar-nominated performances as telekinetic teen Carrie and her horrendous mother. Carrie is bullied at school and has an awful home life. We care about her, we want to see things get better for her. But good things are not to be.
- 6/10/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
For the last few years, Paramount has been giving the Friday the 13th movies they released in the 1980s 40th anniversary steelbook Blu-ray releases. The original Friday the 13th got its steelbook release in 2020, and you can pick that up Here. Friday the 13th Part 2 got its steelbook release in 2021, and you can buy that one at This Link. Friday the 13th Part III followed its predecessors in 2022, and you can get that steelbook Here. There was no Friday the 13th movie released in 1983, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter didn’t come along until ’84, so I was wondering if Paramount was going to wait an extra year to release a steelbook for that one… and the answer is no. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is getting a steelbook Blu-ray release for its 39th anniversary, and it’s already available for pre-order on Amazon!
Directed by Joseph Zito...
Directed by Joseph Zito...
- 10/18/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The Friday the 13th franchise is very important to me, so it always hits me hard when I hear that someone involved with the series has passed away… and last Friday night, the news broke that we have lost another Friday the 13th alumnus. Someone who played the hockey masked icon Jason Voorhees himself: stuntman Ted White. White had already been working in the entertainment industry as an actor and stuntman for thirty-five years by the time he was offered the chance to play Jason in 1984’s Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (watch it Here). It’s not a job he was thrilled to do, he didn’t even want to be credited on the movie, but he accepted it because the pay was good. As years went by, White eventually realized that he had been involved in something special and started connecting with fans at conventions.
It has...
It has...
- 10/17/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Stuntman and actor Ted White, who played Jason Voorhees in "Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter" among other roles, has died at the age of 96. Convention owner Sean Clark confirmed the news on Facebook (via Bloody Disgusting), writing that White "passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home."
White's personal website notes that he was born on January 25, 1926, "in a small town in Texas." At the age of 17, he went into the U.S. Marine Corps, which saw him stationed in the Pacific on Iwo Jima during World War II. He attended the University of Oklahoma on a football scholarship and was also a Golden Gloves boxer before moving to California, where he assembled an impressive list of stunt credits, including "Creature from the Black Lagoon," "Giant," "Rio Bravo," "Planet of the Apes," the 1976 "King Kong," "Escape from New York," "Road House," and the 2000 "Gone in 60 Seconds" remake.
The...
White's personal website notes that he was born on January 25, 1926, "in a small town in Texas." At the age of 17, he went into the U.S. Marine Corps, which saw him stationed in the Pacific on Iwo Jima during World War II. He attended the University of Oklahoma on a football scholarship and was also a Golden Gloves boxer before moving to California, where he assembled an impressive list of stunt credits, including "Creature from the Black Lagoon," "Giant," "Rio Bravo," "Planet of the Apes," the 1976 "King Kong," "Escape from New York," "Road House," and the 2000 "Gone in 60 Seconds" remake.
The...
- 10/15/2022
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Best known to horror fans for playing Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, we’ve learned the sad news tonight that actor/stuntman Ted White has passed away.
Ted White was 96 years old.
Convention All Stars owner Sean Clark writes on social media tonight, “As I’m here setting up at Monsterpalooza I just got hit with the news that my dear friend Ted White has passed away. I was told he passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home.
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him and working with him for close to 20 years. He was my adopted grandpa and hands down the best storyteller you could have ever met. If you haven’t read it yet check out his book Cast a Giant Shadow where many of those stories are told. I was honored to be mentioned in the book when he wrote...
Ted White was 96 years old.
Convention All Stars owner Sean Clark writes on social media tonight, “As I’m here setting up at Monsterpalooza I just got hit with the news that my dear friend Ted White has passed away. I was told he passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home.
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him and working with him for close to 20 years. He was my adopted grandpa and hands down the best storyteller you could have ever met. If you haven’t read it yet check out his book Cast a Giant Shadow where many of those stories are told. I was honored to be mentioned in the book when he wrote...
- 10/14/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Released in 1984, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (watch it Here) has one of the most inaccurate titles ever… which is easy to forgive when the movie also happens to be one of the best slashers ever made. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is also the focus of the latest episode of our video series Real Slashers, which you can watch in the embed above!
Directed by Joseph Zito from a screenplay by Barney Cohen (with Bruce Hidemi Sakow receiving story credit), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter has the following synopsis:
The body count continues in this vivid thriller, the fourth — and final? — story in the widely successful Friday the 13th series. Jason, Crystal Lake’s least popular citizen, returns to wreak further havoc in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. After his revival in a hospital morgue, the hockey-masked murderer fixes his vengeful attention on the Jarvis...
Directed by Joseph Zito from a screenplay by Barney Cohen (with Bruce Hidemi Sakow receiving story credit), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter has the following synopsis:
The body count continues in this vivid thriller, the fourth — and final? — story in the widely successful Friday the 13th series. Jason, Crystal Lake’s least popular citizen, returns to wreak further havoc in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. After his revival in a hospital morgue, the hockey-masked murderer fixes his vengeful attention on the Jarvis...
- 10/12/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
You can probably guess what went through Clint Ramos‘ mind when he was hired as the costume designer for the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect.” “It was one of disbelief and then just sort of like the gargantuan task of just following that life and that narrative arc of what is arguably the biggest musical star of the 20th century. So I think that was overwhelming,” Ramos tells Gold Derby during our Meet the Experts: Film Costume Design panel (watch above).
Starring Jennifer Hudson as the icon, “Respect” is a decades-spanning biopic, covering Franklin’s life from when she was a 10-year-old child in 1952, the middle of three daughters of famed Baptist pastor C.L. Franklin (Forest Whitaker) to her rise to global fame, and culminating with the recording of her live double album “Amazing Grace” in 1972. Away from the spotlight, Franklin struggled with alcoholism and domestic abuse at the hands of her first husband and manager,...
Starring Jennifer Hudson as the icon, “Respect” is a decades-spanning biopic, covering Franklin’s life from when she was a 10-year-old child in 1952, the middle of three daughters of famed Baptist pastor C.L. Franklin (Forest Whitaker) to her rise to global fame, and culminating with the recording of her live double album “Amazing Grace” in 1972. Away from the spotlight, Franklin struggled with alcoholism and domestic abuse at the hands of her first husband and manager,...
- 11/15/2021
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
In his role as Ted White, Aretha Franklin’s abusive husband and manager, in the biopic Respect, Marlon Wayans was forced to have an on-screen relationship with co-star Jennifer Hudson that definitely ran both hot and cold, and almost always filled with some kind of tension. But whenever director Liesl Tommy yelled “cut,” it was a […]
The post Marlon Wayans Gave Jennifer Hudson Plenty Of ‘Respect’ (And Much More) During Filming appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post Marlon Wayans Gave Jennifer Hudson Plenty Of ‘Respect’ (And Much More) During Filming appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 9/8/2021
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
In the new Aretha Franklin biopic Respect, Marlon Wayans portrays Ted White, who was both Franklin’s manager and husband through most of the 1960s. And while he may not have been as notoriously nasty as Ike Turner, White certainly was no saint, either. So, in the movie, Wayans found himself walking a fine line as […]
The post Playing Aretha’s Husband In ‘Respect’ Felt Like More Than One Character To Marlon Wayans appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post Playing Aretha’s Husband In ‘Respect’ Felt Like More Than One Character To Marlon Wayans appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 8/19/2021
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
I can’t say I envy the task of trying to bring Aretha Franklin — one of the most enduring artists of the 20th century (and beyond), with a voice so singular that most other singers have been wise enough to spare her the flattery of genuine imitation — to the big screen. And for the Queen of Soul herself to have picked Jennifer Hudson to play the part must, for Hudson, have been a daunting honor, second only to being asked to sing a tribute to Franklin at the icon’s 2018 funeral.
- 8/13/2021
- by K. Austin Collins
- Rollingstone.com
(The following post contains Spoilers for the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect”)
The new Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” shows the Queen of Soul grappling with fame, fortune, finding the right note at the start of her career and everything that followed. But it offers little clarity around one of the most poignant parts of her young life – Franklin’s becoming pregnant as a young girl, whether willingly or otherwise.
In the opening of the film directed by Liesl Tommy, we meet a 10-year-old Aretha (played by 12-year-old Skye Dakota Turner) whose preacher father (Forest Whitaker) brings her downstairs to a party full of famous people and asks her to sing for everybody.
In a later party scene, with the clearly pre-pubescent Aretha preparing to go to sleep in her bedroom, an unnamed man enters, closes the door and says that he’ll be her “boyfriend.” Later, we see the little girl in silhouette,...
The new Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” shows the Queen of Soul grappling with fame, fortune, finding the right note at the start of her career and everything that followed. But it offers little clarity around one of the most poignant parts of her young life – Franklin’s becoming pregnant as a young girl, whether willingly or otherwise.
In the opening of the film directed by Liesl Tommy, we meet a 10-year-old Aretha (played by 12-year-old Skye Dakota Turner) whose preacher father (Forest Whitaker) brings her downstairs to a party full of famous people and asks her to sing for everybody.
In a later party scene, with the clearly pre-pubescent Aretha preparing to go to sleep in her bedroom, an unnamed man enters, closes the door and says that he’ll be her “boyfriend.” Later, we see the little girl in silhouette,...
- 8/13/2021
- by Aarohi Sheth and Brian Welk
- The Wrap
R_25682_R (l-r.) Hailey Kilgore stars as Carolyn Franklin, Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin and Saycon Sengbloh as Erma Franklin in Respect, A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert
As Summer’s season of movie escapism draws to a close, the Fall and Winter awards season gets a bit of an early start as a new film in one of Oscar’s favorite genre “hybrids” is released. On Friday we get a new entry in the “musical biography” line of award ‘”showcases”. Yes, playing a popular singer/performer has proven to be quite a “gold gatherer” for many actors and actresses. Most recently Rami Malek took the big trophy for “channeling” Freddie Mercury in 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody and the following year it was Renee Zellweger in the title role of Judy, as in Ms. Garland. Of course, the years have seen several tune-filled biopics take home...
As Summer’s season of movie escapism draws to a close, the Fall and Winter awards season gets a bit of an early start as a new film in one of Oscar’s favorite genre “hybrids” is released. On Friday we get a new entry in the “musical biography” line of award ‘”showcases”. Yes, playing a popular singer/performer has proven to be quite a “gold gatherer” for many actors and actresses. Most recently Rami Malek took the big trophy for “channeling” Freddie Mercury in 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody and the following year it was Renee Zellweger in the title role of Judy, as in Ms. Garland. Of course, the years have seen several tune-filled biopics take home...
- 8/13/2021
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.”
Marlon Wayans says it’s time for a sequel to “White Chicks.” In the 2004 comedy, he and his brother Shawn Wayans star as FBI agents who pretend to be the young white vapid socialites that they have been assigned to protect from a potential kidnapping. “I think ‘White Chicks 2’ is necessary,” Marlon Wayans tells me. “I think we’ve tightened up so much that we need to loosen our ties a bit and laugh a little bit.” The $37 million film grossed more than $113 million worldwide. “I don’t think Hollywood understands what a juggernaut ‘White Chicks 2’ would be,” Wayans says. The brothers have plenty of story ideas for a sequel. “And the world just keeps giving us more,” Wayans says. “‘White Chicks 2’ is writing itself.”
The actor can now be seen on the big screen playing Aretha Franklin’s (Jennifer Hudson) abusive first husband Ted White.
Marlon Wayans says it’s time for a sequel to “White Chicks.” In the 2004 comedy, he and his brother Shawn Wayans star as FBI agents who pretend to be the young white vapid socialites that they have been assigned to protect from a potential kidnapping. “I think ‘White Chicks 2’ is necessary,” Marlon Wayans tells me. “I think we’ve tightened up so much that we need to loosen our ties a bit and laugh a little bit.” The $37 million film grossed more than $113 million worldwide. “I don’t think Hollywood understands what a juggernaut ‘White Chicks 2’ would be,” Wayans says. The brothers have plenty of story ideas for a sequel. “And the world just keeps giving us more,” Wayans says. “‘White Chicks 2’ is writing itself.”
The actor can now be seen on the big screen playing Aretha Franklin’s (Jennifer Hudson) abusive first husband Ted White.
- 8/12/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
The story goes that the legendary singer Aretha Franklin thought long and hard about exactly which multitalented performer had both the musical chops and the acting depth to play her in “Respect,” a big-screen biopic chronicling her rise. But years after she was handpicked by Franklin herself and ultimately made the film, Jennifer Hudson can’t tell you exactly what the Queen of Soul saw in her.
“I’m so mad at myself for not asking her that question!” laughed Hudson when Variety posed the question on Sunday at the Los Angeles premiere of “Respect.”
Even so, Hudson has a theory. “But I feel like while we were filming, I think it goes beyond the singing and how Jennifer sings and acts. It’s within the scene when Aretha’s mother comes to her; it felt so true to my own life. And in the moment I was like, ‘I...
“I’m so mad at myself for not asking her that question!” laughed Hudson when Variety posed the question on Sunday at the Los Angeles premiere of “Respect.”
Even so, Hudson has a theory. “But I feel like while we were filming, I think it goes beyond the singing and how Jennifer sings and acts. It’s within the scene when Aretha’s mother comes to her; it felt so true to my own life. And in the moment I was like, ‘I...
- 8/9/2021
- by Scott Huver
- Variety Film + TV
From age 10 till 30, Aretha Franklin sure could sing, but she hadn’t yet found her voice. At least, that’s the take served up in “Respect,” a solid if somewhat conventional feature directing debut for Broadway helmer Liesl Tommy which flatters Franklin in practically every way, beginning with the casting of Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson as the First Lady of Soul’s younger self. That’s not to say that “Respect” is pure hagiography, even if the title makes clear that Tommy intends for audiences to emerge with a deeper appreciation of the personal struggles — as well as the triumphs — that shaped Franklin’s signature sound.
Pandemic delays pushed “Respect” from the 2020 release calendar to Aug. 13, giving National Geographic’s Cynthia Erivo-starring, Aretha-focused season of “Genius” a chance to reach (small) screens first, despite objections from the Franklin family to some of the series’ tawdrier bits. Still, both projects...
Pandemic delays pushed “Respect” from the 2020 release calendar to Aug. 13, giving National Geographic’s Cynthia Erivo-starring, Aretha-focused season of “Genius” a chance to reach (small) screens first, despite objections from the Franklin family to some of the series’ tawdrier bits. Still, both projects...
- 8/9/2021
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
When Lisel Tommy’s Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” opens, Aretha is still just a kid, hoping to please her dad with her out-of-this-world pipes. Aretha (played as a child by Skye Dakota Turner) gets her wish: her high-flying dad rouses her from sleep to come downstairs and share her gift with a packed house of carousing pals. It’s a strong opening to , one that plunges us immediately into Aretha’s world and skills, while also making clear just how little control she has over all of it. And while young “Ree-Ree” delights in sharing her abilities with a house full of awestruck adults, the sense that she’s just a pawn for others’ desires is one that will haunt Aretha — and her career — throughout Tommy’s film.
As the party spins out, Dinah Washington, already jealous and likely knowing that the pint-sized crooner was coming for her crown, notes...
As the party spins out, Dinah Washington, already jealous and likely knowing that the pint-sized crooner was coming for her crown, notes...
- 8/9/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Actors will love Liesl Tommy’s Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect.” Thirteen years after the Queen of Soul first approached Jennifer Hudson, who had just won her “Dreamgirls” Oscar, with the idea of playing her in a movie, “Respect” wrapped filming in February 2020, one month before lockdown. MGM decided to push back the movie from December 2020 to August 13, 2021, to give it a chance to play in theaters.
Judging from the way “Respect” played Saturday night at the Bruin Theatre in Westwood to (masked and vaccinated) members of the Screen Actors Guild nominating committee, the studio made the right choice to favor an exclusive theatrical release. Broadway director Tommy has mounted a solid crowdpleaser, written by Tracey Scott Wilson, that will satisfy generations of Franklin fans. And ageless 39-year-old singer-actress Hudson, who plays Franklin from her teens through her acclaimed 1972 gospel concert “Amazing Grace,” is on her way to a second Oscar nomination.
Judging from the way “Respect” played Saturday night at the Bruin Theatre in Westwood to (masked and vaccinated) members of the Screen Actors Guild nominating committee, the studio made the right choice to favor an exclusive theatrical release. Broadway director Tommy has mounted a solid crowdpleaser, written by Tracey Scott Wilson, that will satisfy generations of Franklin fans. And ageless 39-year-old singer-actress Hudson, who plays Franklin from her teens through her acclaimed 1972 gospel concert “Amazing Grace,” is on her way to a second Oscar nomination.
- 8/8/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Actors will love Liesl Tommy’s Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect.” Thirteen years after the Queen of Soul first approached Jennifer Hudson, who had just won her “Dreamgirls” Oscar, with the idea of playing her in a movie, “Respect” wrapped filming in February 2020, one month before lockdown. MGM decided to push back the movie from December 2020 to August 13, 2021, to give it a chance to play in theaters.
Judging from the way “Respect” played Saturday night at the Bruin Theatre in Westwood to (masked and vaccinated) members of the Screen Actors Guild nominating committee, the studio made the right choice to favor an exclusive theatrical release. Broadway director Tommy has mounted a solid crowdpleaser, written by Tracey Scott Wilson, that will satisfy generations of Franklin fans. And ageless 39-year-old singer-actress Hudson, who plays Franklin from her teens through her acclaimed 1972 gospel concert “Amazing Grace,” is on her way to a second Oscar nomination.
Judging from the way “Respect” played Saturday night at the Bruin Theatre in Westwood to (masked and vaccinated) members of the Screen Actors Guild nominating committee, the studio made the right choice to favor an exclusive theatrical release. Broadway director Tommy has mounted a solid crowdpleaser, written by Tracey Scott Wilson, that will satisfy generations of Franklin fans. And ageless 39-year-old singer-actress Hudson, who plays Franklin from her teens through her acclaimed 1972 gospel concert “Amazing Grace,” is on her way to a second Oscar nomination.
- 8/8/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Really getting under the skin of a fully realized female character has long remained a challenge in television, but in recent years, the brilliant-yet-troubled heroine has been taking a back seat to someone more authentically human, whose personal struggle is no longer peppered in through lazy shorthand ciphers that check the “complex character” box.
This year’s deep dives into the female psyche, as in HBO’s “I May Destroy You” and “Mare of Easttown” and Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit,” tackle sexual assault, substance abuse and grief in all its paradoxes.
Why this is becoming a trend rather than just a passing fad, at least according to “Mare of Easttown” creator Brad Ingelsby, is because “viewers demand more now. So, if something isn’t complex or honest, they’re going to switch the channel.”
In his television debut, Ingelsby’s approach was to shape the titular character (played by...
This year’s deep dives into the female psyche, as in HBO’s “I May Destroy You” and “Mare of Easttown” and Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit,” tackle sexual assault, substance abuse and grief in all its paradoxes.
Why this is becoming a trend rather than just a passing fad, at least according to “Mare of Easttown” creator Brad Ingelsby, is because “viewers demand more now. So, if something isn’t complex or honest, they’re going to switch the channel.”
In his television debut, Ingelsby’s approach was to shape the titular character (played by...
- 6/14/2021
- by Carita Rizzo
- Variety Film + TV
Five top TV showrunners will reveal the magic behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Emmy contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Thursday, June 3, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Daniel Montgomery and a group chat with Daniel and all of the group together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Emmy contenders:
“The Boys”: Eric Kripke
Synopsis: A group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.
“The Comey Rule...
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Emmy contenders:
“The Boys”: Eric Kripke
Synopsis: A group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.
“The Comey Rule...
- 5/20/2021
- by Chris Beachum and Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
The official trailer and poster for Respect, the biopic of Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, have been released.
The film from MGM Pictures in association with Bron Creative and One Community arrives August 13 in theaters and stars Jennifer Hudson as Franklin. The story follows her rise from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to international superstardom.
Also on board for the film are Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin, Tituss Burgess asReverend Dr. James Cleveland, Marc Maron as Jerry Wexler, Kimberly Scott as Mama Franklin, Saycon Sengbloh as Erma Franklin, Hailey Kilgore asCarolyn Franklin, Heather Headley as Clara Ward, Skye Dakota Turner as Young Aretha Franklin, Tate Donovan as John Hammond, and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. Tommy is the first Black woman nominated for a...
The film from MGM Pictures in association with Bron Creative and One Community arrives August 13 in theaters and stars Jennifer Hudson as Franklin. The story follows her rise from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to international superstardom.
Also on board for the film are Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin, Tituss Burgess asReverend Dr. James Cleveland, Marc Maron as Jerry Wexler, Kimberly Scott as Mama Franklin, Saycon Sengbloh as Erma Franklin, Hailey Kilgore asCarolyn Franklin, Heather Headley as Clara Ward, Skye Dakota Turner as Young Aretha Franklin, Tate Donovan as John Hammond, and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. Tommy is the first Black woman nominated for a...
- 5/19/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Cynthia Erivo isn’t the only one bringing Aretha Franklin to our screens this year. Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson will play the iconic singer in “Respect,” and in a new trailer for the film, we see exactly why she was the perfect casting choice.
The trailer opens on Aretha as a young girl singing with her mother — played by the incomparable Audra McDonald — at the piano. Imparting some motherly wisdom, Aretha is told that singing should always be something she wants to do, not something others want for her.
“What’s most important is that you are treated with dignity and respect,” her mother says, foreshadowing what’s to come.
We then see a montage of a young Aretha, as those around her begin to discover her killer pipes, before Hudson appears as adult Aretha. At this point in her career, she’s had four albums without a hit single and is feeling discouraged.
The trailer opens on Aretha as a young girl singing with her mother — played by the incomparable Audra McDonald — at the piano. Imparting some motherly wisdom, Aretha is told that singing should always be something she wants to do, not something others want for her.
“What’s most important is that you are treated with dignity and respect,” her mother says, foreshadowing what’s to come.
We then see a montage of a young Aretha, as those around her begin to discover her killer pipes, before Hudson appears as adult Aretha. At this point in her career, she’s had four albums without a hit single and is feeling discouraged.
- 5/19/2021
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
Nat Geo’s “Genius” brand is a force to be reckoned with at the Emmys, winning two trophies and being nominated for Best Limited Series and Best Actor for its first two installments: “Genius: Einstein” with Geoffrey Rush in 2017 and “Genius: Picasso” with Antonio Banderas in 2018. The latest season to enter the awards derby is “Genius: Aretha,” starring Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin. The eight-episode series aired in March to critical acclaim, with Erivo being praised as “born to play” the legendary Queen of Soul. In Nat Geo’s video clip above, watch Erivo singing “How I Got Over” — yes, she sings her own songs.
The scene is a pivotal moment in the series, as the actress fully steps into Franklin’s shoes for the first time and a star is born before our eyes, both on-screen and off. The moment comes after Franklin has been told yet again that...
The scene is a pivotal moment in the series, as the actress fully steps into Franklin’s shoes for the first time and a star is born before our eyes, both on-screen and off. The moment comes after Franklin has been told yet again that...
- 5/7/2021
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The Performer | Cynthia Erivo
The Show | Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha
More from TVLineWalking Dead Recap: Separate WaysDid Resident Alien Karaoke Rock? Can Wanda Maximoff Please Get Her Due? Did This Is Us Break You? And More QsThis Is Us Recap: In the Nick of Time -- Plus, Who Made a Surprise Return?
The Episode | “Respect” (March 21, 2021)
The Performance | Thirteen seconds. That’s how long it took Erivo to convince us in Genius: Aretha‘s opening episode that she’d embodied an icon. From knowing little smiles to the “up-south” Detroit way of speaking that the Brit adopted,...
The Show | Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha
More from TVLineWalking Dead Recap: Separate WaysDid Resident Alien Karaoke Rock? Can Wanda Maximoff Please Get Her Due? Did This Is Us Break You? And More QsThis Is Us Recap: In the Nick of Time -- Plus, Who Made a Surprise Return?
The Episode | “Respect” (March 21, 2021)
The Performance | Thirteen seconds. That’s how long it took Erivo to convince us in Genius: Aretha‘s opening episode that she’d embodied an icon. From knowing little smiles to the “up-south” Detroit way of speaking that the Brit adopted,...
- 3/27/2021
- by Team TVLine
- TVLine.com
Aretha Franklin’s relationship with her family and husband are a key part of National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha” series — including her father, Rev. C.L. Franklin, a Baptist minister and civil rights activist.
In a recent interview, Courtney B. Vance, who plays C.L. Franklin (often called “the man with the million-dollar voice”) in the scripted series based on Aretha’s life, said that the tension between father and daughter was often palpable.
“Seven years, it took Aretha to break through and find her own voice and when she did, she and he battled because it was, ‘I made you,’ but ‘I’m here now, daddy.’ So the journey and the tension between the two of them was palpable,” Vance told Variety.
Aretha’s mother, Barbara Franklin, died four years after separating from her husband, so Aretha and her sisters were raised by their father and grandmother.
C.L. encouraged...
In a recent interview, Courtney B. Vance, who plays C.L. Franklin (often called “the man with the million-dollar voice”) in the scripted series based on Aretha’s life, said that the tension between father and daughter was often palpable.
“Seven years, it took Aretha to break through and find her own voice and when she did, she and he battled because it was, ‘I made you,’ but ‘I’m here now, daddy.’ So the journey and the tension between the two of them was palpable,” Vance told Variety.
Aretha’s mother, Barbara Franklin, died four years after separating from her husband, so Aretha and her sisters were raised by their father and grandmother.
C.L. encouraged...
- 3/26/2021
- by Samson Amore
- The Wrap
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Aretha Franklin was the kind of shooting star that sprints through the atmosphere only once in a lifetime. Born on March 25, 1942, the talented singer-songwriter honed her craft in church, and became an icon whose music will continue to inspire legions of recording artists for generations to come.
In a career of more than 60 years, the Queen of Soul sold over 75 million records, won 18 Grammys, became the first female Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and amassed a collection of legendary hits soundtracking our lives with timeless anthems such as “Respect,” “Do Right Woman,” and “Rock Steady.”
Franklin’s death from pancreatic cancer in 2018 was a devastating loss to the music world, but...
Aretha Franklin was the kind of shooting star that sprints through the atmosphere only once in a lifetime. Born on March 25, 1942, the talented singer-songwriter honed her craft in church, and became an icon whose music will continue to inspire legions of recording artists for generations to come.
In a career of more than 60 years, the Queen of Soul sold over 75 million records, won 18 Grammys, became the first female Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and amassed a collection of legendary hits soundtracking our lives with timeless anthems such as “Respect,” “Do Right Woman,” and “Rock Steady.”
Franklin’s death from pancreatic cancer in 2018 was a devastating loss to the music world, but...
- 3/25/2021
- by Latifah Muhammad
- Indiewire
After premiering with two episodes on Sunday, Genius: Aretha continues tonight with two more episodes as the National Geographic anthology tells the tale of Aretha Franklin's life and career.
We have the pleasure of premiering an exclusive clip from Genius: Aretha Season 1 Episode 3, titled "Do Right Woman."
In the clip, Aretha (Cynthia Erivo) attends a protest for the Civil Rights Movement, but all is not as it seems.
The singer, songwriter, actress, pianist, and civil rights activist is shown to be trying to conceal her identity in the scene.
It makes sense. Aretha was well-known for her impressive talents at that point in her life, but she crosses paths with another activist who quickly realizes just who she is.
Aretha wants to help in any way she can and starts by handing out flyers.
Unfortunately, her help is cut short when she is cornered by a man who...
We have the pleasure of premiering an exclusive clip from Genius: Aretha Season 1 Episode 3, titled "Do Right Woman."
In the clip, Aretha (Cynthia Erivo) attends a protest for the Civil Rights Movement, but all is not as it seems.
The singer, songwriter, actress, pianist, and civil rights activist is shown to be trying to conceal her identity in the scene.
It makes sense. Aretha was well-known for her impressive talents at that point in her life, but she crosses paths with another activist who quickly realizes just who she is.
Aretha wants to help in any way she can and starts by handing out flyers.
Unfortunately, her help is cut short when she is cornered by a man who...
- 3/22/2021
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Courtney B. Vance has a gift for tapping into rich and complex, larger-than-life men. In 2016, for example, he won an Emmy for his portrayal of real-life lawyer Johnnie Cochran in “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”; just last year he took on the role of George Freeman in HBO’s “Lovecraft Country”( for which he now sees a SAG Award ensemble nomination) and now he can be seen as Pastor C.L. Franklin aka the titular Queen of Soul’s father in National Geographic’s four-night event, “Genius: Aretha.”
How did you balance getting inside C.L.’s mind to portray him with the father-daughter relationship he had with Aretha? Did you have to separate and compartmentalize his story from theirs?
The generation that he came from were sharecroppers, and the idea that a Black man could actually go from sharecropping with no future to being the “Million-Dollar...
How did you balance getting inside C.L.’s mind to portray him with the father-daughter relationship he had with Aretha? Did you have to separate and compartmentalize his story from theirs?
The generation that he came from were sharecroppers, and the idea that a Black man could actually go from sharecropping with no future to being the “Million-Dollar...
- 3/22/2021
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Aretha Franklin sang about “Respect” but what she really craved was control.
Franklin, who was undeniably brilliant, fiercely wanted to protect the love and loss within her private life as well as have a say in the strategic trajectory of her career. These are two of the major themes thoughtfully explored in Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha, which premiered with two episodes Sunday March 21. Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo sings beautifully and delivers a masterful performance as the icon at various stages of her life in the titular role. And Courtney B. Vance shines as he steals countless...
Franklin, who was undeniably brilliant, fiercely wanted to protect the love and loss within her private life as well as have a say in the strategic trajectory of her career. These are two of the major themes thoughtfully explored in Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha, which premiered with two episodes Sunday March 21. Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo sings beautifully and delivers a masterful performance as the icon at various stages of her life in the titular role. And Courtney B. Vance shines as he steals countless...
- 3/22/2021
- by Mekeisha Madden Toby
- TVLine.com
In the wake of Aretha Franklin’s death in 2018, competing biopics on the Queen of Soul were announced: one coming to movie screens and the other making up the third season of National Geographic’s anthology series “Genius.” Both biopics were delayed by a year because of the global pandemic, and now “Genius: Aretha” is the first release to set the tone for our view of Franklin as a performer, a legend, and a woman.
The series starts with a grown Aretha (Cynthia Erivo) arriving at Muscle Shoals to work under acclaimed music producer Jerry Wexler (David Cross). She’s brought along her husband, Ted White (Malcolm Barrett) and almost immediately the dynamic between the pair is evident. It also introduces one of the more frustrating things about “Genius: Aretha”: It’s a biography told with a muddled chronology, and this storytelling technique is distracting and confounding.
In this...
The series starts with a grown Aretha (Cynthia Erivo) arriving at Muscle Shoals to work under acclaimed music producer Jerry Wexler (David Cross). She’s brought along her husband, Ted White (Malcolm Barrett) and almost immediately the dynamic between the pair is evident. It also introduces one of the more frustrating things about “Genius: Aretha”: It’s a biography told with a muddled chronology, and this storytelling technique is distracting and confounding.
In this...
- 3/21/2021
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
Cynthia Erivo’s long-teased portrayal of Aretha Franklin will finally hit your TV screen in March.
NatGeo has announced a Sunday, March 21 premiere date for Genius: Aretha, with episodes airing at 9 pm and 10 pm. Additionally, two episodes will drop each night for four consecutive nights, culminating with the finale on Wednesday, March 24.
More from TVLineChris Hemsworth to Host Shark Beach Special for Nat Geo's 2021 SharkFestTVLine Items: The Equalizer Promo, Afraid of the Dark Date and MoreTVLine Items: Marvel's What If...? Trailer, Days Recasts Vivian and More
Erivo, a Tony Award winner and two-time Oscar nominee, stars as Franklin, who began...
NatGeo has announced a Sunday, March 21 premiere date for Genius: Aretha, with episodes airing at 9 pm and 10 pm. Additionally, two episodes will drop each night for four consecutive nights, culminating with the finale on Wednesday, March 24.
More from TVLineChris Hemsworth to Host Shark Beach Special for Nat Geo's 2021 SharkFestTVLine Items: The Equalizer Promo, Afraid of the Dark Date and MoreTVLine Items: Marvel's What If...? Trailer, Days Recasts Vivian and More
Erivo, a Tony Award winner and two-time Oscar nominee, stars as Franklin, who began...
- 2/9/2021
- by Rebecca Iannucci
- TVLine.com
Over the course of decades, Marlon Wayans admired the work of director Sofia Coppola and actor Bill Murray from afar, finally getting the chance to collaborate with both on Apple TV+ drama, On the Rocks.
Debuting on the streaming platform in October, the film tells the story of Laura (Rashida Jones), a novelist and mother to two young daughters, who grows suspicious of her frequently-absent husband, Dean (Wayans), setting off on a journey with her philandering father Felix (Murray) to determine whether or not he is cheating.
A charismatic tech entrepreneur on the cusp of massive success, Dean proved to be a challenging role for Wayans, because of the fact that he was written as a mystery for his wife to figure out—a man whose actions and true motivations would only be understood over time.
For the writer, producer and actor—who hails from a legendary comedy family, and...
Debuting on the streaming platform in October, the film tells the story of Laura (Rashida Jones), a novelist and mother to two young daughters, who grows suspicious of her frequently-absent husband, Dean (Wayans), setting off on a journey with her philandering father Felix (Murray) to determine whether or not he is cheating.
A charismatic tech entrepreneur on the cusp of massive success, Dean proved to be a challenging role for Wayans, because of the fact that he was written as a mystery for his wife to figure out—a man whose actions and true motivations would only be understood over time.
For the writer, producer and actor—who hails from a legendary comedy family, and...
- 1/27/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Another one bites the dust, folks. Insert your own joke here about this movie not being able to get any Oscar respect, but we’ve lost a new awards player, folks. Yes, Respect is officially moving even further into the 2021 cycle, removing it from Academy Award contention here in this unique 2020 season. Obviously, it could still be a contender next year, but cross it off of this year’s life. The Aretha Franklin biopic, which stars Jennifer Hudson as the legendary singer, now becomes the latest victim of Covid-19 and the theatrical experience largely being on pause in the major markets. Read on for more… According to Variety, MGM has changed their January 15th release date to August 13th. Starring Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin, the movie had already abandoned an August release date here in 2020, so it’ll be nearly a year delay when all is said and done here.
- 10/28/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Exhibitors got another setbacks today as MGM/United Artists Releasing has delayed the release of the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect, starring Jennifer Hudson, from January 15 to August 13. MGM also has pulled its Tomb Raider sequel starring Alicia Vikander from its March 19 premiere date; that film now is unset.
The moves come amid continuing uncertainty gripping the global theatrical business as theaters in several international territories reducing their hours of operation or close temporarily.
Respect initially was set to unspool in a Christmas Day platform release, but was moved in July to a wide opening this coming Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. The film is directed by Liesl Tommy and stars Dreamgirls Oscar winner Hudson as the Queen of Soul, Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington and Tituss Burgess as Rev. Dr. James Cleveland.
As for Tomb Raider 2, it...
The moves come amid continuing uncertainty gripping the global theatrical business as theaters in several international territories reducing their hours of operation or close temporarily.
Respect initially was set to unspool in a Christmas Day platform release, but was moved in July to a wide opening this coming Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. The film is directed by Liesl Tommy and stars Dreamgirls Oscar winner Hudson as the Queen of Soul, Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington and Tituss Burgess as Rev. Dr. James Cleveland.
As for Tomb Raider 2, it...
- 10/28/2020
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
MGM has delayed “Respect,” the Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson, by seven months from Jan. 15 to Aug. 13 in the latest shuffle of a major title amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The studio also announced Tuesday that it has removed “Tomb Raider 2,” starring Alicia Vikander, from its March 19 release date.
“Respect,” titled after Franklin’s 1967 hit, had originally been scheduled to be released in August of this year but was shifted at the start of the pandemic to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Hudson, who won a supporting actress Oscar for “Dreamgirls,” was personally selected for the role by Franklin before Franklin died in 2018 at the age of 76.
Franklin won 17 Grammys, starting with “Respect” in 1968 and “Chain of Fools” in 1969. The film, directed by Liesl Tommy, also stars Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington and Tituss Burgess as Rev.
The studio also announced Tuesday that it has removed “Tomb Raider 2,” starring Alicia Vikander, from its March 19 release date.
“Respect,” titled after Franklin’s 1967 hit, had originally been scheduled to be released in August of this year but was shifted at the start of the pandemic to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Hudson, who won a supporting actress Oscar for “Dreamgirls,” was personally selected for the role by Franklin before Franklin died in 2018 at the age of 76.
Franklin won 17 Grammys, starting with “Respect” in 1968 and “Chain of Fools” in 1969. The film, directed by Liesl Tommy, also stars Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington and Tituss Burgess as Rev.
- 10/28/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: In the wake of the great response from Jennifer Hudson’s performance of Aretha Franklin’s “Young, Gifted & Black” on the BET Awards, and the 60 minute trailer that followed, MGM/United Artists Releasing is now going wide with their biopic about the legendary performer on Jan. 15, 2021, MLK weekend. The all-in move shows how much confidence they have in the film’s commercial potential.
Previously, the studio was planning to platform the movie, with a limited Christmas Day debut, an expansion on Jan. 8 and full-on wide release on Jan. 15. Also, having an extension to the Oscar-qualifying period (to the end of February) helps. It will be interesting to see how many more studios follow this model, versus the typical Thanksgiving-Christmas crunch for award pedigree films.
Respect is directed by Liesl Tommy and stars Dreamgirls Oscar winner Hudson as Franklin, Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington,...
Previously, the studio was planning to platform the movie, with a limited Christmas Day debut, an expansion on Jan. 8 and full-on wide release on Jan. 15. Also, having an extension to the Oscar-qualifying period (to the end of February) helps. It will be interesting to see how many more studios follow this model, versus the typical Thanksgiving-Christmas crunch for award pedigree films.
Respect is directed by Liesl Tommy and stars Dreamgirls Oscar winner Hudson as Franklin, Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington,...
- 7/22/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin in Respect A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert / © 2020 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved
Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, Respect is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. Tommy is the first Black woman ever nominated for a Tony award for Best Direction of a Play in 2016 for Eclipsed, and is an Associate Artist at the Berkeley Rep and an Artist Trustee with the Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees.
Check out the first trailer starring Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan, and Mary J. Blige. See the film this December.
Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, Respect is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. Tommy is the first Black woman ever nominated for a Tony award for Best Direction of a Play in 2016 for Eclipsed, and is an Associate Artist at the Berkeley Rep and an Artist Trustee with the Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees.
Check out the first trailer starring Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan, and Mary J. Blige. See the film this December.
- 6/29/2020
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Jennifer Hudson channels Aretha Franklin in the first teaser trailer for the upcoming biopic of the late Queen of Soul “Respect,” which debuted Sunday during the BET Awards ceremony.
The film, directed by Tony-nominated director Liesl Tommy in her feature film debut, follows the rise of Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom.
In addition to Hudson, the film also stars Forest Whitaker as her Baptist minister father C.L. Franklin, Audra McDonald as her mother, Barbara Franklin, Marlon Wayans as her first husband, Ted White, Marc Maron as music producer Jerry Wexler, Tituss Burgess as gospel music legend James Cleveland, Saycon Sengbloh as sister Erma Franklin, Hailey Kilgore as Carolyn Franklin, Heather Headley as gospel singer Clara Ward, Skye Dakota Turner as young Aretha, Tate Donovan as record producer John Hammond and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington.
Also Read:...
The film, directed by Tony-nominated director Liesl Tommy in her feature film debut, follows the rise of Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom.
In addition to Hudson, the film also stars Forest Whitaker as her Baptist minister father C.L. Franklin, Audra McDonald as her mother, Barbara Franklin, Marlon Wayans as her first husband, Ted White, Marc Maron as music producer Jerry Wexler, Tituss Burgess as gospel music legend James Cleveland, Saycon Sengbloh as sister Erma Franklin, Hailey Kilgore as Carolyn Franklin, Heather Headley as gospel singer Clara Ward, Skye Dakota Turner as young Aretha, Tate Donovan as record producer John Hammond and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington.
Also Read:...
- 6/29/2020
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
The first full trailer for MGM’s “Respect,” the upcoming Aretha Franklin starring vocal powerhouse Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul, has arrived. The preview dropped Sunday night following Hudson’s performance at the BET Awards, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.
The film directed by Liesl Tommy was originally slated to open in theaters October 9, but was pushed to a limited Christmas Day debut, to be followed by an expansion kicking off January 8 and a wide opening on January 15, timed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Expect a major awards play for star Hudson, who previously won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her scene-stealing turn in the musical “Dreamgirls.” Watch the trailer for “Respect” below.
The film charts the highs and lows of Franklin’s life and career. She began as a young gospel singer in Detroit and became a smash success after signing...
The film directed by Liesl Tommy was originally slated to open in theaters October 9, but was pushed to a limited Christmas Day debut, to be followed by an expansion kicking off January 8 and a wide opening on January 15, timed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Expect a major awards play for star Hudson, who previously won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her scene-stealing turn in the musical “Dreamgirls.” Watch the trailer for “Respect” below.
The film charts the highs and lows of Franklin’s life and career. She began as a young gospel singer in Detroit and became a smash success after signing...
- 6/29/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
In today’s film news roundup, Jennifer Hudson’s “Respect” is moved back two months; another film festival is postponed; and “Lupin the Third: the First” and “Raising Buchanan” find distribution; and Prominent Productions launches.
Release Date
MGM has moved the release date of Jennifer Hudson’s Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” from Oct. 9 to late in the awards seasons with a limited Christmas Day debut.
“Respect,” titled after Franklin’s 1967 hit, will expand Jan. 8 and go into wide release Jan. 15 at the start of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Hudson, who won a supporting actress Oscar for “Dreamgirls,” was personally selected for the role by Franklin before Franklin died in 2018 at the age of 76.
Franklin won 17 Grammys, starting with “Respect” in 1968 and “Chain of Fools” in 1969. The film, directed by Liesl Tommy, also stars Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Mary J. Blige as...
Release Date
MGM has moved the release date of Jennifer Hudson’s Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” from Oct. 9 to late in the awards seasons with a limited Christmas Day debut.
“Respect,” titled after Franklin’s 1967 hit, will expand Jan. 8 and go into wide release Jan. 15 at the start of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Hudson, who won a supporting actress Oscar for “Dreamgirls,” was personally selected for the role by Franklin before Franklin died in 2018 at the age of 76.
Franklin won 17 Grammys, starting with “Respect” in 1968 and “Chain of Fools” in 1969. The film, directed by Liesl Tommy, also stars Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Mary J. Blige as...
- 3/27/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
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