Culture fan favorite turned Broadway hit The Color Purple is hitting the big screen again.
On Monday, Warner Bros released the first trailer of the reimagining of Alice Walker's 1982 novel of the same name.
In 1985, the bestseller hit the big screen, directed by Steven Spielberg and earning $98.5 million at the box office. The film was made into a Broadway musical phenomenon in 2005.
The new adaptation is based on the musical and will star well-known vocalist Fantasia Barrino (Celie), The Little Mermaid's Halle Bailey (Nettie), Taraji P. Henson (Shug Avery) (2019), Euphoria's Colman Domingo (Mister), and H.E.R. (Squeak).
The press release reads that the movie is a "bold new take on the beloved classic," detailing the "extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond."
Blitz Bazawule is the director, the screenplay is adapted by Marcus Gardley (The Chi, Foundation) with original cast member Oprah Winfrey as a producer alongside Spielberg and Quincy Jones.
At CinemaCon 2023 last month, Oprah previewed the remake, calling it a "full-circle moment" that holds "great personal meaning," per Entertainment Weekly.
"The Color Purple in 1985 was the biggest and most important thing that ever happened to me and continues to be," Winfrey shared. "Now we're doing a brand-new version that could only come because of the most perfect director."
The musical was in competition for 11 Tony Awards including Best Performance by an Actress in a leading role by LaChanze as Celie. The OG movie received 11 Oscar nominations, including nods for Oprah in Best Supporting Actress and Whoopi Goldberg for Best Actress. Though The Color Purple did not win in any of its categories, Whoopi won a Golden Globe for her legendary performance.
The film will premiere in theaters on Christmas Day 2023. Watch the trailer above.
