Respect Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

The life of Aretha Franklin from singing as a child in her father’s church’s choir to becoming an iconic superstar and civil rights activist.

Plot

What's the story about?

Plot

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.

Biography Drama Music

Top Cast

The lead cast starring in Respect.

• 
  Jennifer Hudson

  ... Aretha Franklin

  Breathe, The Three Stooges

• 
  Forest Whitaker

  ... C.L. Franklin

  The King of Kings, Megalopolis

• 
  Marlon Wayans

  ... Ted White

  Scary Movie Untitled, Him

• A
  Audra McDonald

  ... Barbara Franklin

  Origin, Beauty and the Beast

• 
  Mary J. Blige

  ... Dinah Washington

  Rock of Ages, Trolls World Tour

• M
  Marc Maron

  ... Jerry Wexler

  What Is Life Worth, The Bad Guys 2

• 
  Tituss Burgess

  ... Reverend Dr. James Cleveland

  Spellbound, Dolemite Is My Name

• S
  Saycon Sengbloh

  ... Erma Franklin

• H
  Hailey Kilgore

  ... Carolyn Franklin

• T
  Tate Donovan

  ... John Hammond

  What Is Life Worth, Ghosted

• S
  Skye Dakota Turner

  ... Young Aretha Franklin

• H
  Heather Headley

  ... Clara Ward

Crew Behind the Film

The Respect behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

The film's director Liesl Tommy last directed Born a Crime.

Director

Liesl Tommy

Screenwriter

Tracey Scott Wilson

Producers

Scott Bernstein
Harvey Mason
Stacy Sher

Production Details

What we know about the Respect movie production.

Key Facts

• With a story by Callie Khouri (Oscar® winner for Writing, Thelma & Louise) and Tracey Scott Wilson, and screenplay written by Tracey Scott Wilson. Wilson and Tommy have worked together creatively since the 2009 play The Good Negro written by Wilson, directed by Tommy at The Public Theatre. Wilson was a writer on FX’s The Americans which garnered her a Peabody Award as well as Emmy® and WGA Award nominations (6/6/2021).
• "My dream for the film -- and for Aretha and her legacy -- was to create a piece of cinema that feels like a classic you have to see in a movie theater. You have to see it on a big screen because her life was so big it deserved that." – Liesl Tommy, director of Respect (6/6/2021).
• Callie Khouri, who wrote “Thelma & Louise” and is the creator of TV's Nashville, is writing the script (3/9/19).
• Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson was handpicked by Aretha Franklin to play her before the singer's death (1/11/19).

Production Updates for Respect

Jun 2021

Completed

Changed Respect movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

Dec 2019

Post-Production

Changed the movie production status to Post-Production. The movie is now in the editing and finishing stages.

Jan 2019

Pre-Production

Changed the movie production status to Pre-Production. Stage director Liesl Tommy is on-board to direct the biopic.

Mar 2018

Development

Changed the movie production status to Development. The movie is likely in scripting, budgeting, or stuck in "development hell."

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Additional Information

All Trailers

Watch official Respect movie trailers and clips.

Questions

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Official Page and Social Links

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Across the Web

• Get Tickets & Showtimes
• Buy on Amazon
• More Info on IMDb