With just 100 days left to go until the U.S. premiere, a couple of brand new images have been released for the Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect. Jennifer Hudson leads the cast as the iconic Franklin, backed by a wonderful supporting cast that includes Forest Whittaker, Marlon Wayans, and Mary J. Blige.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. Tommy is the first Black woman ever nominated for a Tony award for Best Direction of a Play in 2016 for Eclipsed, and is an Associate Artist at the Berkeley Rep and an Artist Trustee with the Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees.
Respect has a story by Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise) and Tracey Scott Wilson, and a screenplay written by Tracey Scott Wilson. Wilson and Tommy have worked together creatively since the 2009 play The Good Negro written by Wilson, directed by Tommy at The Public Theatre. Wilson was a writer on FX’s The Americans which garnered her a Peabody Award as well as Emmy and WGA Award nominations.
Respect hits stateside cinemas from 13th August with other territories supposedly to follow. Check out the two news stills above and below.
