Aretha Franklin Biopic Holding Online Auditions For Young Actress To Star Opposite Jennifer Hudson
“Respect” – the Aretha Franklin biopic set at MGM, is looking for an actress to play the young/teen Aretha.
Those interested should get on it now, as rehearsals are set for September for a shoot beginning in October.
The casting description reads:
“African American girl to play ages 10-14. Charismatic child prodigy. At times painfully shy, at other times joyful, especially when playing the piano and singing. MUST SING WELL, IDEALLY WITH A SOARING GOSPEL SOPRANO. PLAYING PIANO IS A PLUS. LEAD.”
You can submit your audition tape here
Liesl Tommy is the director. Former Nashville creator Callie Khouri has been tapped to write the autobiographical tale. Hudson’s appearance was much less of an audition and more of a coronation. According to Variety, Franklin handpicked Hudson as the actress who would portray her in the biopic before she passed.
“Respect”, which is due out on August 14, 2020, will trace Franklin’s tale from humble beginnings as a singer in her father’s church choir to one of the world’s most revered vocalists.
“It is an absolute honor to be a part of bringing Ms. Franklin’s story to audiences who adore her around the world,” said Hudson in an earlier statement. “She is one of the most iconic and talented artists of all time and what a dream come true it is to portray her extraordinary life on screen. I could not be more excited to be working alongside Liesl Tommy, a brilliant and thoughtful director, who is no doubt the perfect choice to lead the film.”
PROJECT: Respect
STUDIO: MGM
DIRECTOR: Liesl Tommy
CASTING DIRECTOR: Telsey+Company/Bernie Telsey, Tiffany Little-Canfield, David Vaccari
REHEARSAL: September 2019
SHOOT: October 2019 through December 2019
i want this so bad becauce i want to be a actor and a performer to play aretha is a dream rol and i want to prove poeple wrong i have been through so mush in my life that i want to find my self again . i have to be honest my english is good i think i have only act ones and i can sing . but the only thing is i live in holland but i want tis so bad . but that doesn’t mean i can’t make my dreams come true.