By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — Alice Walker’s novel “The Color Purple” has previously been released as a film and also in a theatrical version. But there’s a new, updated film adaptation coming to theaters for Christmas. This week viewers can get an inside look into the making of the film courtesy of The Oprah Winfrey Network. It will present an hour-long special “OWN Celebrates The New Color Purple” Friday at 9 p.m. Central.
Winfrey, who also executive produced the new adaptation, hosts the behind-the-scenes special. She will conduct interviews with the film’s cast and offer an intimate look at how the story became a cultural phenomenon. Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R. and Fantasia Barrino — who stars as Celie — will share how they prepared to portray their roles in the film. Director Blitz Bazawule, screenwriter Marcus Gardley, choreographer Fatima Robinson and costume designer Francine Jamison-Tanchuck will discuss how they reimagined the classic story through their contributions.
In addition, Winfrey will reflect on the impact that playing Sofia in the 1985 film had on her life — beyond earning a best supporting Oscar actress nomination — and the relevance of the themes in “The Color Purple” today. Plus, the special will include exclusive conversations between Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, as well as Alice Walker, the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Color Purple.”
The special is the latest promotional push for “The Color Purple,” which hits theaters on Dec. 25. The 1985 film, starring Whoopi Goldberg, Winfrey and Danny Glover, aired Wednesday at 7 p.m. Central on OWN, while Winfrey also named the movie to her eagerly anticipated list of “Favorite Things” for this holiday season, with the commemorative tickets arriving in collectible packaging.
Last month, Barrino was honored at Variety’s Power of Women ceremony, presented by Lifetime, in honor of her return to the role 15 years after the “American Idol’ winner starred in the Broadway show. Winfrey introduced Barrino and spoke of the actor’s role in bringing the new “Color Purple” to life. “Several years ago, as a producer, I watched Fantasia embody the character of Celie on the Broadway stage, and I thought, ‘Well, what could top that?’ And this year, I saw what could top that,” Winfrey said. “To watch Fantasia re-embody, re-imagine and re-invent Celie for our film was to actually witness triumph in action.”
“OWN Celebrates The New Color Purple” is produced for OWN by Harpo Productions.
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