Every musical icon sooner or later becomes the subject of a biopic, and if MGM has its way, the next recipient of the treatment will be Aretha Franklin. The studio has Jennifer Hudson lined up to play her.
Music executive Clive Davis – who has worked extensively with Franklin in her long, successful career – announced the casting at his swanky pre-Grammy party on Saturday night, with Hudson on hand to show off her own musical chops covering a couple of Franklin's memorable hits, Respect and Think. And according to Davis, Franklin personally selected the Dreamgirls Oscar and Grammy winner to play her, which must give her both a feeling of pride and the creeping dread knowing how keenly her performance will be watched.
None of the other main creative types are attached to the movie yet, though Straight Outta Compton producer Scott Bernstein will oversee the film with music producer Harvey Mason Jr., who has a connection to both Franklin and Hudson, having worked with the former and co-produced music for Dreamgirls.
Most recently seen in Sandy Wexler, Hudson has a role in new drama Monster, which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
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