In case you didn’t know, the genre of biopic films is trending, and Lifetime are the ones puling all the strings!
Within the next year, R&B/soul/Hip-Hop legends such as Whitney Houston, Aaliyah Houghton and N.W.A. will grace the small and silver screens, their lives and careers brought to the forefront (N.W.A. will hit the theaters). Along with the controversial upcoming films about Houston and Aaliyah, The Lifetime Network is behind an upcoming film about the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin!
Unlike the former productions mentioned which come with a slew of resistance, Franklin is happily on board to have a movie made about her life and career, and offer much insight and input. All that’s needed are the signatures on the paper. Franklin told Billboard.com, “We’re very, very close to signatures on one agreement. It’s just a matter of our coming to terms and agreeing about what we’re doing to do.”
According to reports, she’s also involved with the cast selection, especially who she wants to portray her. She’s been vocal in the past about wanting Halle Berry for the role, but rumor has it she’s eyeing Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and Jennifer Hudson. “Audra’s got a great voice to work with, but she’s very Broadway oriented,” Franklin notes, “but that doesn’t mean she cannot perform in the arena of soul, so that’s why I’m interested in hearing how she would sing my things. The singing is certainly going to be a very, very integral and important part of it.”
In other news, Aretha is also finishing up an album of covers of hits by her fellow divas. Produced by Andre 3000 of Outkast, the Soul Queen will cover Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” Gladys Knight and the Pips’ “Midnight Train To Georgia,” Donna Summer’s “Last Dance,” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”
Seems like the upcoming months will be huge for Ms Franklin AND music biopics!
