'Respect': Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin

Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, “Respect” is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.

The Dec. 30 film stars Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson as Franklin.

Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with “Respect.” Tommy is the first Black woman ever nominated for a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (in 2016 for “Eclipsed”), and is an associate artist at the Berkeley Rep and an artist trustee with the Sundance Institute’s board of trustees.

The film is from a story by Callie Khouri (Oscar winner for “Thelma & Louise”) and Tracey Scott Wilson, and the screenplay was written by Tracey Scott Wilson. Wilson and Tommy have worked together creatively since the 2009 play “The Good Negro,” written by Wilson and directed by Tommy at The Public Theatre. Wilson was a writer on FX’s “The Americans,” which garnered her a Peabody Award as well as Emmy and WGA Award nominations.

“Respect” stars:

• Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin
• Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin
• Marlon Wayans as Ted White
• Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin
• Tituss Burgess as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland
• Marc Maron as Jerry Wexler
• Kimberly Scott as Mama Franklin
• Saycon Sengbloh as Erma Franklin
• Hailey Kilgore as Carolyn Franklin
• Heather Headley as Clara Ward
• Skye Dakota Turner as Young Aretha Franklin
• Tate Donovan as John Hammond
• and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington

Follow on social:

• Instagram: @RespectMovie
• Twitter: @RespectMovie
• Facebook: @RespectFilm

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Image courtesy of EPK.TV.