Le'andria Johnson surprises Fantasia Barrino on her Birthday (Color Purple movie musical Backstage)

The Color Purple is an upcoming American musical coming-of-age period drama film directed by Blitz Bazawule and adapted for the screen by Marcus Gardley from the 2005 stage musical of the same name, which is in turn based on Alice Walker's 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. It is also the second film adaptation of the novel, following Steven Spielberg's 1985 film adaptation. Spielberg and Quincy Jones return to produce this version, along with the stage musical's producers Scott Sanders and Oprah Winfrey, the latter of whom also starred in the 1985 film as Sofia.

The Color Purple is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 20, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Fantasia Barrino as Celie Harris
Phylicia Mpasi as Young Celie
Colman Domingo as Mister
Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery
Corey Hawkins as Harpo
Danielle Brooks as Sofia
H.E.R. as Squeak
Ciara as Nettie
Halle Bailey as Young Nettie
Louis Gossett Jr. as Ol' Mister
David Alan Grier as Reverend Avery
Aunjanue Ellis as Mama
Tamela J. Mann as First Lady
Deon Cole as Alfonso
Stephen Hill as Buster
Elizabeth Marvel as Miss Millie
Jon Batiste as Grady
On November 2, 2018, it was announced that a film adaptation of the musical was in development at Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, the same companies that made the 1985 film adaptation of the novel, with Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones, Scott Sanders, and Oprah Winfrey all signed on to produce.[1] On August 24, 2020, it was announced that Marcus Gardley will pen the screenplay and Black Is King's Blitz Bazawule will direct. Winfrey praised the selection of Bazawule as director, after she and the producers saw his work on The Burial of Kojo, saying that they "were all blown away by Blitz's unique vision as a director and look forward to seeing how he brings the next evolution of this beloved story to life." It was also announced that Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Carla Gardini, and Mara Jacobs will executive produce the film.[2]

In August 2021, Corey Hawkins was cast in a lead role.[3] That same month, H.E.R. was cast in her feature acting debut.[4] In February 2022, Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, and Halle Bailey joined the cast, with Barrino and Brooks reprising their roles from productions of the stage musical.[5][6][7] In March 2022, Louis Gossett Jr., David Alan Grier, Tamela J. Mann, Phylicia Mpasi, Deon Cole, Stephen Hill, and Ciara joined the cast.[8][9] In April 2022, Aunjanue Ellis, Elizabeth Marvel and Jon Batiste joined the cast.[10][11][12]

Filming began in March 2022, with production taking place at Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island from March 16 to March 25.[13]

Siedah Garrett will be joining Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray (in place of the late Allee Willis) in writing the film's music