Taraji P. Henson to Star in New ‘The Color Purple’ Adaptation!

Taraji P. Henson is returning to the big screen in a new adaptation of “The Color Purple”!

On Tuesday, Variety broke the news that the “Empire” actress will play jazz and blues singer Shug Avery in the new movie from Warner Bros.

The upcoming flick is based on the Tony-winning musical from Marsha Norman, Brenda Lee, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, which was based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning epistolary novel by Alice Walker.

In 1985, Steven Spielberg directed the first film adaptation that centers around the character of Celie, a Black Southern woman who struggles to find her identity after suffering abuse from her father and others over the course of four decades.

Prior to Henson, Shug was portrayed by Margaret Avery in Spielberg’s adaptation, as well as actresses such as Jennifer Hudson, Michelle Williams, Heather Headley, Elisabeth Withers, Angela Robinson, and Nicola Hughes in productions of the stage musical.

Henson will be joining singer H.E.R., playing Squeak, and Corey Hawkins, portraying Harpo, in the highly anticipated film.

Oprah Winfrey, who made her feature acting debut in Spielberg’s adaptation, is producing under her Harpo Films production company.

Additionally, Spielberg will also produce as part of Amblin Entertainment.

Henson recently portrayed Miss Hannigan in NBC’s “Annie Live!” and hosted “Peace of Mind with Taraji,” a Facebook Watch talk show that shines a light on the mental health issues affecting the world today.

Last October, Henson appeared on our show and opened up about the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, her advocacy group named after her father, which aims to eradicate the stigma around mental health in the Black community.

WATCH the full interview, below.