The Color Purple movie UK release date, cast and new trailer

A release date for the upcoming The Color Purple musical film adaptation in 2023 has been confirmed.

The Color Purple musical is based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker and its 1985 film.

With a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bra, the musical follows the journey of Celie, an African-American woman in the American South, over 40 years in the mid-20th century.

The Color Purple UK release date

The new movie musical is currently scheduled for release in the US on 25 December 2023. The UK release date is 26 January 2024.

You can watch a brand new trailer below…

The screen adaptation of the musical is being produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones. Marcus Gardley will pen the screenplay while direction will come from Blitz Bazawule, who co-directed Beyoncé’s Black Is King.

Meet the cast

Fantasia Taylor will play Celie having previously starred in the show’s original Broadway run. Danielle Brooks, who starred in the 2015 Broadway revival, will play Sofia.

Joining them will be Halle Bailey as Nettie, Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, Colman Domingo as Mister, H.E.R. as Squeak and Corey Hawkins as Harpo. Ciara will appear as an adult Nettie.

Also on the cast are Louis Gossett Jr as Ol’ Mister, David Alan Grier as Reverend Avery, Tamela Mann as First Lady, Deon Cole as Alfonso, Phylicia Mpasi as Young Celie and Stephen Hill as Buster

The Color Purple musical held its world premiere in Altanta in 2004 before transferring to Broadway where the production received eleven Tony nominations.

The show debuted in London in 2013 at at The Menier Chocolate Factory starring Cynthia Erivo. The production transferred to Broadway in 2015 for a revival, with Erivo reprising her lead role, winning the Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Erivo.

About the author: Rachel Wise

UK based freelancer journalist Rachel contributes regularly to Stageberry with features and interviews from the hottest new shows and stage stars.

 

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