Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Color Purple” was turned into an Oscar-nominated film from director Steven Spielberg back in 1985. Then it became a Tony-nominated musical in 2006, followed by a celebrated revival in 2015. Now the two adaptations are coming together as one with Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment turning the musical into a movie, and we’ve got everything you need to know right here.
The film adaptation of “The Color Purple” musical has been slated for release on December 20, 2023 by Warner Bros. Pictures. Since this film is still over two years away from release, it’s likely that we won’t see this film getting a hybrid release in theaters and on HBO Max, but it will hit theaters exclusively on that date. Presumably, this movie will be a tentpole production for awards season and it will have at least a 45-day exclusive theatrical window before arriving on VOD or home video.
The story about these four Black women has been a frequently challenged part of school curriculum around the nation for sexual explicitness, explicit language, violence, and homosexuality. But those elements only serve to make the story that much more harrowing and significant. That’s why BBC News listed the book on its list of the 100 most influential novels.
The Broadway stage production based on the book incorporates jazz, ragtime, gospel, blues, and African music to tell the story that has become a culture touchstone since its publication in 1982. It adds a whole new dimension to the narrative and allows for a showcase of authentically Black music in a Black story about Black characters. The musical earned 11 Tony nominations and ran for 910 performances after its debut in 2005, and the revival in 2015 was again nominated for several Tony Awards and praised by critics. Here’s hoping the movie can garner just as much acclaim.
There’s no trailer for the film adaptation of “The Color Purple” musical, but you can watch a preview of musical moments from the stage production above. Here’s the official synopsis for the revival of the musical from when it was on Broadway:
