[FIRST LOOK] Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin In “RESPECT” Biopic

Legendary singer/songwriter and The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin is well known for many hits such as, “Say A Little Prayer”, “Never Loved A Man (The way I love you)”, and “Respect”. This summer, fans will find out what respect means to Aretha when the RESPECT biopic hits theaters.

Respect will premiere in theaters starting on Friday, August 13, 2021. It will offer viewers a closer look at the rising career of Ms. Franklin. Viewers will be able to witness her start as a child, singing her heart out at her father’s church choir, and watch as she transitions into the international superstar she was destined to be.

The Respect biopic is directed by Liesl Tommy, her feature film debut. Tommy has also made a name for herself by being the first black woman to be nominated for a Tony award in 2016 for best direction of the play “Eclipsed”.

Regarding Respect, Tommy says, “My dream for the film—and for Aretha and her legacy—was to create a piece of cinema that feels like a classic you have to see in a movie theater. You have to see it on a big screen because her life was so big it deserved that.”

Respect will star singer Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin, Forest Whitaker (“Godfather of Harlem”) as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans (White Chicks) as Ted White, Audra McDonald (A Raisin in the Sun) as Barbara Franklin, Marc Maron (Joker) as Jerry Wexler, Tituss Burgess (Dolemite is my Name) as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland, Kimberly Scott (Guess Who) as Mama Franklin, Saycon Sengbloh (American Gangster) as Erma Franklin, Hailey Kilgore (“Power Book III: Raising Kanan”) as Carolyn Franklin, singer Heather Headley as Clara Ward, Skye Dakota Turner as Young Aretha Franklin, Tate Donovan (Love Potion No. 9) as John Hammond, and singer Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington.

You can watch the trailers for the Respect biopic below: