New Trailer For Aretha Franklin’s Biopic Released

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The official trailer for the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect has just dropped – presented by MGM Pictures in association with Bron Creative and One Community. Starring Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul, the film hits the theaters on August 13. The story follows Franklin as a child singing in her father’s church choir and her journey towards superstardom.

Directed by Liesl Tommy, Respect stars Forest Whitaker as Aretha’s father C.L. Franklin, Audra McDonald as Aretha’s mother Barbara Franklin, Marc Maron as producer Jerry Wexler, Marlon Wayans as ex-husband Ted White, and Mary J. Blige as the singer Dinah Washington.

Respect isn’t the only Franklin biopic. NatGeo also released a limited series titled Genius but it was met with criticism and disapproval from Franklin’s family.

Before she passed away in 2018, Franklin already wanted Hudson to play her in a film way back in 2006.

“We met in New York and had a talk about it. There was no script at all,” Hudson recalled to Billboard. “She wanted to meet with me.”

She added, “(Franklin) called me and said, ‘I’ve made my decision, and I won’t you to play me’ — but don’t you tell a soul!’ ‘Yes ma’am, I won’t’.”

Respect was originally slated for release in the fall of 2020 but has been pushed back because of the pandemic restrictions.