It’s another music biopic of a legendary mid-century groundbreaker, and the latest trailer for Respect delivers exactly what you’d expect from something like that (virtually beat for beat), but when it comes to icons like Aretha Franklin the best bet is to honor her life story rather than experiment with it.
Starring Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson as The Queen of Soul, Respect chronicles Franklin’s rise during the 1960s and the tests (both professionally and personally) that came with it.
If there’s one unique element specific teased here, it would appear to be exploring the close bond between Franklin and her sisters Erma and Carolyn (Saycon Sengbloh and Hailey Kilgore), and how they helped Aretha to find her voice and sustain her through the most difficult challenges.
Two other legendary singers also co-star: Academy Award nominee Mary J. Blige as jazz legend Dinah Washington, and six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald as Aretha’s mother Barbara.
Rounding out the ensemble are Forest Whitaker as Aretha’s father Reverend C. L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Aretha’s husband Ted White, and Marc Maron as music producer Jerry Wexler. Tituss Burgess, Brenda Nicole Moorer, Kimberly Scott, Tate Donovan and Skye Dakota Turner (as Young Aretha) also co-star.
From Broadway and TV director Liesl Tommy making her feature film debut, and with a screenplay by Tracey Scott Wilson (TV’s The Americans and Fosse / Verdon) via a story outlined by her and Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise), Respect opens this summer in movie theaters on August 13, 2021.
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Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson stars as R&B legend Aretha Franklin in RESPECT (2021)
Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson stars as R&B legend Aretha Franklin in RESPECT (2021)
Skye Dakota Turner and Audra McDonald co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Hailey Kilgore, Jennifer Hudson and Saycon Sengbloh co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Jennifer Hudson and Forest Whitaker co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Jennifer Hudson and Mary J. Blige co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Hudson co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Saycon Sengbloh, Jennifer Hudson and Hailey Kilgore co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Hailey Kilgore, Jennifer Hudson and Saycon Sengbloh co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Marc Maron, Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Hudson co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Hudson co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Jennifer Hudson and Marlon Wayans co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson stars as R&B legend Aretha Franklin in RESPECT (2021)Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson stars as R&B legend Aretha Franklin in RESPECT (2021)
Tituss Burrgess and Jennifer Hudson co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Brenda Nicole Moorer, Hailey Kilgore, Jennifer Hudson and Saycon Sengbloh co-star in the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Jennifer Hudson and diretor Liesel Tommy on the set of the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Official Banner Poster for the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
Official Movie Poster for the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT (2021)
