Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson may be stepping into the role of her dreams. The actress/musician is in talks to play R&B legend Aretha Franklin in a new biopic chronicling the iconic singer’s rise to fame. According to Tracking-Board, the yet-to-be titled project hails from Universal Pictures with Straight Outta Compton producer Scott Bernstein heading up the project.
Bernstein acquired the story rights from the singer herself, and the film is sure to explore how her personal relationships — abusive and loving — helped inspire her music and change her from unknown gospel singer to the Queen of Soul. Franklin has 18 Grammy awards to her name and was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jennifer Hudson seems like a perfect casting choice for the film, which will fall in line with other recent music biopics including HBO’s Bessie, starring Queen Latifah, the Zoe Saldana-starring Nina — which tells the story of tortured Jazz singer Nina Simone — and Don Cheadle’s Miles Davis project Miles Ahead.
(Via Tracking Board)
