Jennifer Hudson's Quest To Bring Aretha Franklin's Story To Life

When the legendary Aretha Franklin passed away at the age of 76 from pancreatic cancer on August 16, it left a void in the music world that seemed impossible to fill. However, Jennifer Hudson, who was personally chosen by the Queen of Soul herself for the role, is now eager to bring Aretha's story to the big screen as soon as possible.

According to an insider speaking with In Touch, Jennifer is determined to fast-track the biopic project. "Jennifer is hoping to speed up the project before another production gets green-lit," the source revealed. "She thinks this could be another Oscar-worthy performance for her, and she doesn’t want anyone to steal her thunder!"

Back in January of this year, record producer Clive Davis announced that a movie based on Aretha’s 1998 memoir, Aretha: From These Roots, was in the works. Jennifer Hudson, 36, had already been selected for the prestigious role. This was no small feat, considering the immense pressure of portraying such an iconic figure. Hudson’s talent, however, made her a perfect fit for the part.

Read also:

Meg Ryan And John Mellencamps Journey To Love A Story Of Second Chances

Why Jennifer Hudson?

Clive Davis wasn’t shy about his admiration for Jennifer’s abilities. "She stops any and every show she’s in. Her voice is truly incredible," he said. When people ask, "Where’s the next Aretha? Where will the next Aretha come from?" Clive’s answer is always the same: "It’s her." He emphasized that Jennifer had been "anointed by Aretha herself," making her the natural choice for the role.

Just a day later, Jennifer took to Instagram to confirm the exciting news. "And this, guys… I don’t even know what to say… look at God! #ArethaFranklin, you have no idea how humbled I am!" she wrote in a heartfelt post, expressing her deep gratitude and excitement for the opportunity.

Seven Years in the Making

According to E! News, the Aretha biopic has quietly been in development with MGM for the past seven years. The film will be produced by Straight Outta Compton producer Scott Bernstein and music producer Harvey Mason, Jr. The project has been a long time coming, and fans are eager to see it come to fruition.

Aretha herself had a vision for the biopic, and her input was crucial in shaping the film’s direction. In 2011, she expressed her desire for Halle Berry to play her, but the Oscar-winning actress was hesitant about having to sing in the movie. "I told her, 'No, no one ever expected you to sing, Halle. I never thought of you as a singer,'" Aretha explained. While Halle might have lip-synched to Aretha’s original tracks, Jennifer Hudson is expected to bring a fresh vocal element to the role, potentially singing a few songs herself while still using Aretha's iconic recordings for the rest.

A Vision for the Film

Aretha also mentioned that Private Practice star Audra McDonald was once considered for the role, but the final decision rested with the legendary singer herself. Though the film doesn’t yet have a release date or title, Aretha had already revealed that it would be a "pretty straight-up" account of her life. "A chronological depiction of my advent from Detroit to New York as a young, aspiring singer," she said, adding that while fans may already know some details of her rise to stardom, the film would also explore "other things that are not known." Aretha insisted, "We’ve agreed on all the key points. There’s very little left now [to negotiate], very little. They have given me creative control, and that’s all I wanted."