It’s been a long time coming, but Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul herself, may finally have a biopic worthy of her tremendous voice and career. Respect stars Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson as the Hall of Fame singer, in a film that charts her childhood and rise to superstardom, which could only be achieved after she was able to find her reason for singing.
The film features a star-studded supporting cast led by Mary J. Blige, Titus Burgess, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, and Marc Maron. Making her directorial debut is Liesel Tommy, whose work directing Danai Gurira’s stageplay Eclipsed earned a Tony Award nomination.
If there were no pandemic it’s likely Respect would’ve been part of the last awards season. MGM had it slotted to open last Christmas with a traditional Oscar-qualifying rollout, but pushed it back and now we will see it in theaters on August 13th.
Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.
