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Watch Jennifer Hudson Offer A Rousing Rendition Of "Respect" In Aretha Franklin Biopic Trailer
Watch Jennifer Hudson Offer A Rousing Rendition Of "Respect" In Aretha Franklin Biopic Trailer
Source: MGM

Watch Jennifer Hudson Offer A Rousing Rendition Of "Respect" In Aretha Franklin Biopic Trailer

Watch Jennifer Hudson Offer A Rousing Rendition Of "Respect" In Aretha Franklin Biopic Trailer Source: MGM

Jennifer Hudson has the range.

The first trailer for the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT has dropped.

The almost minute-long trailer finds Jennifer Hudson portraying the iconic singer and offering a rousing rendition of one of her most well-known hits, "Respect."

READ: From Yasiin Bey To Outkast: 10 Rap Songs That Sampled Aretha Franklin

Accompanying the trailer is a brief synopsis of the forthcoming film, which reads: "Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice."

The film will be directed by Liesl Tommy and features Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan, and Mary J. Blige. RESPECT drops on Oct. 9, 2020.

The film and Hudson's portrayal of Franklin was confirmed earlier this year. Though it was announced well before the singer’s death, MGM greenlit the film roughly a year ago, when the late Queen of Soul handpicked Hudson for the starring role.

Respect is the second Franklin-based film project to arrive since the singer’s death. On April 5th, the previously-shelved 1972 concert film, Amazing Grace, will finally see a limited release after premiering at the DOC NYC Festival late last year.

Earlier this year, Franklin was honored with a Special Citation Pulitzer. She is the first woman to earn a Special Citation award. (The prize first awarded in 1930.) The last time someone won a Special Citation was when country music legend Hank Williams won it in 2010.