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Oprah and Steven Spielberg team up for ‘The Color Purple’ Movie Musical

The Color Purple is headed to the big screen, and this time, with music.

Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg have announced the production of a movie musical version of Alice Walker’s iconic novel The Color Purple, adapted from the hit stage musical, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Color Purple follows Celie as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life. Celie finds herself after suffering from an abusive husband and father.

Spielberg directed the 1985 film adaptation where Winfrey played Sofia in the production. They will co-produce this movie musical alongside Quincy Jones and Scott Sanders.

“We’re really excited to create a film that translates the heart and emotion we found in telling this generational story on stage,” Sanders said. “This is an incredibly powerful drama that needs to be shared.”

Walker was the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her novel. The first Broadway production opened in 2005 and earned 11 Tony Award nominations.  The book was written by playwright Marsha Norman with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. In 2015 revival won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical along with a Tony for Cynthia Erivo’ portrayal of Celie. The first film earned 11 Oscar nominations and starred Whoopi Goldberg as Celie.

The current production is early in the development process and is still without a cast, director, or writers.

source: Hollywood Reporter