- Title: Jennifer Hudson got ultimate 'Respect' when Aretha picked her to star in biopic
- Date: 9th August 2021
- Summary: UNKNOWN LOCATION (JULY 15, 2021) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, MARLON WAYANS, SAYING: (ON HIS CAREER) "You know, I've been around a long time and I feel like - we've accomplished a lot, right? And it's really funny because all I've done is prepare for the moments that's coming now. Like now I'm ready. I'm more mature. I'm a man now, I can play leading man. I was, I had a baby face for the longest time, and now I can be grounded and sit and, you know, be charming, like I've had enough life experience to know when to be what. So, some people make it when they're like 21. I've been making it the whole time, but my next level is upon me." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, JENNIFER HUDSON, SAYING: (ON WHAT FRANKLIN WANTED THE THEME OF THE MOVIE TO BE) "I think that was her faith. You know, that was her base and premise, and that was the most important thing to me to remind everyone of and keep the context of throughout that process. And it's mine as well. So that was key, like, honey, we can't leave the faith out, we can't leave the gospel out. We can leave the church out. That's not going to happen - not on my watch." LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 8, 2021) (REUTERS) ACTRESS AUDRA MCDONALD POSING FOR PICTURES ACTOR TITUSS BURGESS POSING FOR PICTURES UNKNOWN LOCATION (JULY 15, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, MARLON WAYANS, SAYING: (ON WHAT HE WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT FRANKLIN) "That she, Re' (Aretha) did her thing. Re' had some little side hustles, some little pieces, like, I'm like, Aretha? She had… right after Ted, here Ken. I'm like, who's this Cosby looking brother? And, already, like she ain't give it no time. That's something dudes do - 'alright, we out here come thru.' She was like, 'he gone, come on over.' I was like, wow, what if Ted came back? She didn't care, if Ted came back she would have been like, 'you get in here too. I'm the queen..'"
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2021 15:20
- Keywords: aretha franklin film jennifer hudson marlon wayans movie red carpet respect
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORINA, UNITED STATES / UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS
- City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORINA, UNITED STATES / UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Film,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA007EPK3UBX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Jennifer Hudson says she is both nervous and excited for people to see "Respect," the bio-pic based on the life of the late Aretha Franklin and hopes audiences know her performance is "from the heart and it's like a tribute to Miss Franklin and I hope in the best way possible."
While filming Hudson said she learned she had a lot in common with Franklin.
"Definitely … our faith, that's one. I didn't realize she had the tragedies that she had in her life, that as well. And then obviously the artistry of Aretha was a mastermind. I know my place, OK, but, you know, it's so many ways that I found that we parallel at times."
The film, which will be released in U.S. theaters August 13th, focuses on Franklin's life up until the 1970s. Actor Marc Maron, who portrays record executive Jerry Wexler in the film said it was a good choice to isolate a small segment of her life.
"I thought that they really covered in a in a subtle way and sometimes not so subtle way, the complication, the complicated nature of her personality, her life, you know, the darkness and the light," said Maron.
Some of those dark moments include Franklin's battle with alcohol addiction and domestic violence. These were things director Lisel Tommy said was necessary to show in order to showcase how she became the 'Queen of Soul.'
"You can go to any church - any, any you know, and listen to any choir and there's astounding voices. But she had something different. And that was her ability to bring emotionality to her songs, to her storytelling. And I think that in order to understand how she became a person who could use music that way, let's understand her struggles too. You had to understand - her trauma is what led to her triumph," explained Tommy who wanted the film to begin and end in the church.
Comedian Marlon Wayans shows off his dramatic side in the film as Franklin's first husband.
"It's really funny because all I've done is prepare for the moments that's coming now. Like now I'm ready. I'm more mature. I'm a man now, I can play leading man….So, some people make it when they're like 21. I've been making it the whole time, but my next level is upon me."
For years Hudson had weekly phone calls with Franklin before her death and said she made it clear that she wanted her faith to be the main theme of the movie.
"That was her base and premise, and that was the most important thing to me to remind everyone of and keep the context of throughout that process. And it's mine as well. So that was key, like, honey, we can't leave the faith out…not on my watch."
"Respect" will be released in U.S. theaters on August 13th.
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