Halle Bailey is trading her mermaid tail for a vintage dress in the new “The Color Purple” movie. Ahead of the upcoming release of “The Little Mermaid (2023)”, the young singer/actress has appeared in the first trailer for the period film which was released by Warner Bros. Pictures on Monday, May 22.
The video begins by highlighting the sisterhood between young Nettie Harris (Bailey) and her older sister Celie (Phylicia Mpasi). “Today, our teacher taught us about a place called Africa,” Nettie tells Celie in the trailer. “She say our mamas come from queens over there. That means that we? Royalty.”
The sisters are cruelly separated after Celie married much-older Albert “Mister” Johnson (Colman Domingo). “I’ll write you every day,” young Nettie says as the sisters dramatically bid farewell under the rain.
The trailer then progresses to show adult Celie, played by Fantasia Barrino, as the “American Idol” alum’s rendition of “I’m Here” echoes over the video. She meets Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson), who introduces Celie to a brighter, musical life.
“Let’s see this smile in color,” Shug says as she applies red lipstick to Celie’s face. The trailer also features Danielle Brooks as Sofia, Corey Hawkins as Harpo Johnson and H.E.R. as Mary Agnes a.k.a. Squeak.
The Blitz Bazawule-directed film is based on the stage musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker. Fantasia reprises her role as Celie from the 2007 Broadway revival, while Danielle starred in the 2015 Broadway revival alongside Cynthia Erivo and Jennifer Hudson.
Produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Quincy Jones, it is described as a “bold new take” on the story of “the extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond.” Oprah, who starred in the 1985 film directed by Spielberg, said at CinemaCon in Las Vegas last April that the 1985 film “was the biggest and most important thing that happened to me.” She added that it still holds “great personal meaning.”
“The Color Purple” musical remake is slated to hit U.S. theaters on Christmas Day, December 25.
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