I’m excited to announce that the trailer for one of the most highly anticipated films of 2021 is finally here! Liesl Tommy’s Aretha Franklin biopic, RESPECT, set for release on August 13th, 2021, stars Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Mary J. Blige and Marlon Wayans. Check out new images and the official trailer inside….
Skye Dakota Turner stars as Young Aretha Franklin and Audra McDonald as her mother Barbara
Hailey Kilgore stars as Carolyn Franklin, Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin and Saycon Sengbloh as Erma Franklin
Tituss Burgess stars as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland and Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin
starring
Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin
Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin
Marlon Wayans as Ted White
Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin
Marc Maron as Jerry Wexler
Tituss Burgess as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland
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
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.
With a story by Callie Khouri (Oscar® winner for Writing, Thelma & Louise) and Tracey Scott Wilson, and screenplay written by Tracey Scott Wilson. Wilson and Tommy have worked together creatively since the 2009 play The Good Negro written by Wilson, 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.
 
