Variety has reported on casting news regarding the upcoming 2023 musical adaptation of The Color Purple. Taraji P. Henson, who was nominated for an Oscar for best-supporting actress in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, will be joining the cast in the role of Shug Avery.

The Color Purple was a novel written by Alice Walker that was released in 1982. The story was adapted into a film directed by Stephen Spielberg in 1985. The film was then adapted into a broadway musical in 2005. The 2023 film will be a musical adaptation based on the Broadway production. Musical movies are gaining popularity lately with such films as In The Heights, Dear Evan Hansen, and West Side Story.

The film will be directed by Blitz Bazawule, known for Black is King. Other confirmed cast members include Corey Hawkins, known for In The Heights and Straight Outta Compton, who will be portraying the role of Harpo, and H.E.R., known for her R&B musical career, who will be portraying the role of Squeak.

The Color Purple follows the character of Celie Harris as she navigates her life in an abusive relationship. Shug Avery, played by Henson, serves as a romantic interest to Celie, as well as a system of support in her life. The relationship between these two characters reinforces the major theme of gender in the story.

The 2023 film will bring the story of The Color Purple to a new audience. The musical elements will set this film apart from the 1985 original.