Much has been made over the past several months of Warner Bros.’ ongoing financial woes, a terrible bean-counting situation exacerbated by the strikes, which is why we’re not currently writing about Dune: Chapter Two (given that it’s not coming out until March now) and why you can currently watch the first Dune, a once-upon-a-time HBO Max exclusive, on Netflix. But the Christmas corridor seems to be a big chance for them to make something happen at the multiplex, which is why they’ve jammed it full of semis at rush hour. Within three weeks, you’re gonna get Wonka, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and The Color Purple, and, unsurprisingly, it’s the last one that we have the most hope for.
This new trailer for Blitz Bazawule’s musical adaptation of Steven Spielberg’s film (in turn based on Alice Walker’s novel) looks absurdly vibrant, and features some incredible talent in front of and behind the camera. Warner Bros. dropped the new footage earlier on Tuesday, presumably after someone told them that they’ve actually got to market these Christmas releases (it took them a solid eight months to drop an Aquaman trailer as well, with bad PR being the only thing that pushed them over the edge).
Take a look:
Here’s a synopsis, complete with a full-on list of all of the talented folks you’ll be watching in it:
“Warner Bros. Pictures invites you to experience the extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond in ‘The Color Purple.’ This bold new take on the beloved classic is directed by Blitz Bazawule, a multi-medium artist whose breakout first feature is the highly acclaimed ‘The Burial of Kojo.’ The film’s all-star producers are Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones. ‘The Color Purple’ stars Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson (‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’), SAG Award winner and Tony Award nominee Danielle Brooks (‘The Color Purple,’ ‘Orange Is the New Black’), Tony nominee and Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo (‘Euphoria,’ ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’), Tony Award nominee Corey Hawkins (‘Six Degrees of Separation,’ ‘In the Heights’), Oscar- and Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. (‘Judas and the Black Messiah’), Grammy nominee Halle Bailey (‘The Little Mermaid’), Oscar nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (‘King Richard,’ ‘Ray’), and Grammy-winning artist Fantasia Barrino in her major motion picture debut.”
The Color Purple hits theaters on Christmas Day.