Recently, word has been spreading that legendary vocalist Aretha Franklin wanted actress Halle Berry to play her in her upcoming biopic. Now the singer is claiming that Berry is out and that Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia are now the likely candidates for the coveted role.
“Oh no, definitely not. She was one of the people I had in mind but not the only person that I had in mind,” said Franklin in an interview with CNN’s AJ Hammer. “Maybe it could be Fantasia. It could be Jennifer [Hudson]. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Although both women are at the top of the list for the role, in our eyes, Hudson seems to have the upper hand over Fantasia.
Fantasia has the pipes but she doesn’t at all resemble Franklin and considering that Fantasia has already signed on to star in the upcoming Mahalia Jackson biopic, it’s unlikely that she’ll be able to pull double duty as both musical legends.
After last night’s moving Aretha Franklin tribute at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards, it’s a safe bet to say that Hudson would be the stronger candidate for the role.
Hudson effortlessly sang her way through renditions of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Respect,” and “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves.” And her acting chops are top-notch, having already snagged both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her critically acclaimed portrayal of the character Effie in the 2006 remake of Dreamgirls.
So who do you think is the better fit to portray Franklin? –nicholas robinson
