Jon Batiste has joined the cast of The Color Purple's planned musical cinema adaptation. Batiste will play Grady in the film, according to Variety. Grady is a pianist who has been regarded as affable and sweet-talking. Shug Avery is his wife (played by Taraji P. Henson). Grady was originally portrayed by Ben Guillory in the 1985 film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg.

Batiste has released many studio albums, including Times in New Orleans in 2005, Jazz Is Now in 2013, and We Are in 2021. He also received an Academy Award for Best Original Score for Pixar's Soul, which will be released in 2020. (directed by Pete Docter). Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Coleman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Ciara, Elizabeth Marvel, David Alan Grier, Tamala J. Mann, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Deon Cole, Stephen Hill, Louis Gossett Jr., and Aunjanue Ellis will join Grady and Henson in the picture.

 

Celie (Barrino) is a Black lady in the American South at the turn of the twentieth century who has a personal awakening. Blitz Bazawule, who directed Black Is King in 2020 and The Burial of Kojo in 2018, will direct it. Marcus Gardley wrote the screenplay for the film. It is based on Alice Walker's 1982 novel, for which she will serve as a producer. It is also based on the Broadway musical of the same name from 2005. Through her production business Harpo Films, Oprah Winfrey will also serve as a producer for the film. Winfrey was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Sofia in the 1985 film adaptation. "We were all taken away by Blitz's distinct vision as a director, and we look forward to seeing how he brings the next iteration of this great narrative to life," Winfrey said of the upcoming film previously.