(New York, New York - September 10, 2010) -- Aretha Franklin today revealed her choices for starring roles in the highly anticipated bio-pic based on her New York Times best-selling autobiography, Aretha: From These Roots.
The all star lineup features Oscar award-winning actress Halle Berry in the role of a younger Aretha Franklin, and Oscar and Tony winning superstar Denzel Washington in the role of her father-Rev. C.L. Franklin, the legendary minister, national evangelist, pastor and civil rights leader. Franklin selected Oscar-nominated Terrence Howard for the role of her life-long friend and music icon Smokey Robinson; Blair Underwood for the role of her brother and long-time manager Cecil Franklin; and Nia Long for the role of her sister, Erma Franklin. She also chose award-winning gospel singers LaShun Pace and Karen Clark Sheard to take on the roles of members of the world-renowned gospel group, the Ward Singers, with Karen Clark Sheard in the role of Kitty Parham. The Ward Singers greatly influenced Ms. Franklin's life and career.
According to Franklin, these actors are enthusiastic about the project and have agreed to take on these roles, subject to further negotiation. During the summer, she had the opportunity to discuss the film with Denzel Washington when he was starring on Broadway in August Wilson's Fences. He was very interested in the role. She also had a very positive response from her in-person conversations with Terrence Howard and others. Franklin reports that she will be reviewing the script next week, putting the film another step closer to production.
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