Aretha Franklin has made it clear that she wants Halle Berry to star in her upcoming bio-pic and Halle Berry has made it clear that she doesn't want to do it [click here if you missed that], but actress Nia Long is hoping Aretha will choose her...
The script has been finalized and the casting calls have gone out and Nia Long tells Essence.com,
"I would be ever so honoured. She's an icon and I'm sure there's more to her story than the world knows. Aretha, if you're out there and you're reading, count me in!"The press release for Aretha's bio-pic describes it as
"an epic tale with probably the most starring and supporting roles since Roots."
24 comments:
Dead @ since Roots I can't take you ninjas seriously
I'd say Nia would be cool for this role. I gave Aretha the side-eye for wanting Halle anyway.
Nia would be great in this role. She needs a good starring role like this one, anyway. She's been in the game a long time, she's talented and respectable. I hope they choose her.
Who ever Aretha chooses i hope they do a good job!
i like aretha, but i read the book and it doesn't give any scoop.
NIA IS CUTE BUT HER ACTING SUCKS.
ok here is the scoop..."allegedly" Aretha's first child was by her father...which when u think about it isnt a stretch since Aretha's mom left him for impregnating and teenager in their congregation. seems like the man, although he was a great preacher, had a problem with boundaries! its laughable how in her book she never names the father of her child. this is one of those KNOWN secrets and why Aretha has had weight issues over the years...its not what youre eating, its whats eating you!
the girl was 13!!!!
On October 16, 1934, Franklin married his first wife, Alene Gaines, and though that marriage had ended by early 1936, the form of dissolution is uncomfirmed. On June 3, 1936, Franklin married Barbara Siggers, with whom he had four children: Erma (1938-2002), Cecil (1940-1989), Aretha (b. 1942), and Carolyn (1944-1988). Barbara had a son by a previous relationship, Vaughn (b. 1934), whom C. L. adopted shortly after the marriage. Vaughn did not know C. L. Franklin was not his father until 1951.[5] In 1940, Franklin fathered a daughter, Carl Ellan Kelley (née Jennings), by Mildred Jennings, a 12-year-old girl in his New Salem Baptist Church congregation. (She gave birth to Carl Ellan several days after her thirteenth birthday.)[6]
People who have NEVER met these celebrities SWEAR up and down they KNOW what has happened in these peoples' lives.
11:13 well 11:04 seems to know a hellva lot more than me/you/us combined.
That is not you speaking, Aretha, is it? (at 11:04)
@11:02 - Preach. Preach.
As for Aretha wanting Halle to play her role, I can ONLY think that she wanted that because of Halle's beauty (it surely couldn't be because Halle would bring so amazing acting skills to the table) so I can see the hoopla about the request. But, Halle has a lot of nerve to turn it down. I'm just saying.
Aretha wasn't so bad looking back in her day - with the weight gain and age has taken it's toll and it has and will with everyone (with the exception of Ruby Dee) hell, Aretha can request Halle all she wants.
I do think that Nia would be a great second.
Just my thoughts....
I can live with Nia Long in that role. I would love to see real real singer in the role though (Jill Scott.) Aretha certainly is doing her best to avoid Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia. LOL
@12:42....I certainly hope that she wouldn't exhaust to seeking them (jennifer or fantasia) out. That would be tragic.
Is it just me or am the only one who literally can't stand to see (or hear) the sight of them two? Every since the over-explosion of DreamGirls - I simply.can't.stomach.jennifer.
Fantasia ...is.just.dumb. Literally and figuratively.
No, it's not you @ 1:01 p.m.
overthem.com
Nia is a little too one-dimensional & I can't see her in this role. I think Nicole Behari or Anika Noni Rose - these two are about Aretha's height AND they can act their azzes off. Although I love JHud & Fantasia, neither can act so if they go the singer/actress route the only person I think could pull it off is Jill Scott.
I also want to add that if people would look up photos of young Aretha, she was gorgeous so Halle playing her isn't such a stretch (it would be a stretch for her to PORTRAY Aretha because she's a mediocre actor at best).
Nia would be a good choice.
@2:19 agree. I'm 12:23 and 1:01 and damn....on this post (obviously) too much. Damn shame.
I like Nia, BUT she's not right for this particular role ... in my humble opinion they need a good actress who can act & sing (and no, I'm not talking about Beyonce ... I said "good" actress) ... & this thing about having a cast as star studded as Roots is the reason why Aretha's bio will probably NOT be on the Ray Charles & Tina Turner oscar worthy bio level b/c Re-Re is worried more about a "pretty" actress portraying her & how many "big name" stars can be in her movie vs telling an authentic, truthful story about her life.
OMG!!! Nia is perfect for this role.
Damn! I forgot about Anika Noni Rose she should be a shoe in. As a matter of fact, Anika looks like she could have been Aretha's daughter.
Aretha Franklin had a wish list of actors she wanted and had Nia Long to play her baby sister Caroline. i think Aretha Franklin has become uninterested since Halle Berry didn't accept the role. that book about Ms. Franklin life wasn't that good, but if she was really honest, about her life story, that would be a good movie.
Sorry but in think Tasia would knock this role out the park! And as far as singing style she is closest IMO...jhudwould also be believable....and I'm waiting ona Lena horne/Alicia keys casting! I know-unpopular choices....
True 4:52, I like Aretha, and she is a living legend with an spendid career, but she seems a lil high minded to me. Sweetie we all bleed and just because you are a "celebrity" doesn't necessarily make you all that lol.. Yea, Miss Aretha cares more about the cast and not the true story. Ump, comparing her life bio to Roots, a story about the greatest American tragedy against African Americans??? Uh, where they do that at??
@11:02pm...yeah Tasia & Alicia are not in "some" people's good graces right now, but they would be perfect for those roles!!!
I like Nia in those Love Jones type roles but she doesn't have the range or the look to pull this off.
Halle is beautiful, but she can't sing or dance. She isn't soulful. She was great as Dorothy Dandridge and might do Lena Horne well, but not the Queen.
I adore Jill Scott, but she's too fat to play a young Aretha. An actress can always pad to play an older/larger person, but the reverse isn't true. There is no way Jill can play Aretha when she was slim, plus she isn't that great an actress.
Fantasia can sing but she's ugly and unpopular right now. Alicia can't act and her speaking voice is very butch and rough.
Anika...meh. Everyone meh. They need a talented unknown to pull this off.
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