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Taraji P. Henson to play Shug Avery in new musical film ‘The Color Purple’

image-by-Kevin-Mazur-Getty-Images

Kevin Mazur-Getty Images

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‘The Color Purple’ musical film is underway with Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery. 

Henson will join Corey Hawkins who will reportedly play Harpo and award-winning singer H.E.R who is set to star as Squeak, a juke joint waitress with dreams of being a singer in the film’s ensemble ahead of its release December 2023.

Shug Avery was first played by Margaret Avery whose character was widely known as Celie’s promiscuous friend in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film.

The forthcoming Warner Bros. movie is an adaptation of the award-winning Broadway musical, which is an adaptation of the novel written by Alice Walker. 

The film will be directed by Blitz Bazawule who is known for his work on Beyoncé’s Black Is King with a script by Marcus Gardley based on Walker’s book, Spielberg’s film and the stage musical. 

Oprah Winfrey, who made her acting debut in the 1985 film, is producing the new movie under her Harpo Films banner. 

Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones both produced the Broadway musical where they will be involved as producers on the movie. Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker, Mara Jacobs, Carla Gardini, Kristie Macosko Krieger, and Adam Fell are joining as the executive producers.

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