Jon Batiste to Make Characteristic Performing Debut in ‘The Coloration Purple’

After successful the highest prize at this yr’s Grammys, Jon Batiste is ready to make his function appearing debut in The Coloration Purple.

Warner Bros. is behind the function adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical, itself an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel by Alice Walker, and on which the Oscar-nominated Steven Spielberg-directed 1985 film was based mostly. The story facilities on a girl named Celie Harris and tracks her lifelong struggles as an African American girl residing within the South throughout the early 1900s.

Batiste is ready to painting Grady, Shug Avery’s (performed by Taraji P. Henson) husband, a sweet-talking piano man.

Batiste would be part of a beforehand reported forged of Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., and others.

Blitz Bazawule, the filmmaker behind the Beyoncé-fronted Black Is King, is ready to direct the contemporary tackle the musical. Marcus Gardley penned the screenplay, tailored from Marsha Norman’s guide and Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray’s rating. The film is in preproduction, with casting starting to come back collectively and chemistry reads taking place now.

Winfrey, who made her personal function appearing debut in Spielberg’s The Coloration Purple and earned an Oscar nomination, is producing by way of her Harpo Movies banner with Spielberg and his Amblin Leisure. Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones, each of whom had been behind the Broadway musical, can even produce. Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Carla Gardini, Adam Fell and Mara Jacobs are government producing.

Warners has set a launch date of Dec. 20, 2023.

Batiste, who’s repped by CAA and Eisner, is the bandleader and musical director of The Late Present With Stephen Colbert. He received 5 Grammys on the 2022 awards present along with his newest studio album, We Are, successful album of the yr. He beforehand earned an Oscar for finest authentic rating for the Pixar movie Soul.

This text was initially printed by The Hollywood Reporter.