Jon Batiste, who took home five Grammys Awards earlier this month, is set to make his acting debut in the upcoming musical remake of The Color Purple.
The 35-year-old musician, who also serves as musical director and bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, will play Grady, husband of sexy blues singer Shug Avery, a role previously announced will be filled by 51 – year-old Taraji P. Henson (“Hidden Figures,” “Empire”). Grady was played by Bennet Guillory, 75, in the Oscar-nominated 1985 film.
Academy Award winner Batiste won Grammys Album of 2022 for We Are and topped this year’s nominations with 11 nominations.
The new version of The Color Purple – a story based on the Alice Walker novel – was first adapted for Broadway in 2005 and later as a Broadway musical in 2015, starring Cynthia Erivo (‘Harriet’) and Jennifer Hudson (‘Dreamgirls “) revived in the lead roles. ).
It is produced by Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Quincy Jones and Steven Spielberg, who also directed and produced the earlier film.
Other cast members include Danielle Brooks, HER, Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis, Corey Hawkins, Fantasia Barrino, Ciara, Louis Gosset Jr., David Alan Grier and Colman Domingo.
The Warner Bros. film will be directed by Blitz Bazawule and will be released in December 2023.
https://nypost.com/2022/04/15/jon-batiste-to-make-film-acting-debut-in-the-color-purple-musical/ Jon Batiste makes film debut in musical The Color Purple.