Aretha Franklin: Halle Berry Should Play Me in Biopic

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 10th 2010 09:15PM

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, has some pretty strong opinions when it comes to who should portray her in an upcoming biopic film. In Franklin's mind, only Halle Berry has what it takes to portray the younger version of the singing legend, according to the Associated Press.

Earlier this week, Franklin sent out a press release detailing her specific choices for the prominent roles in the film. In addition to Berry, she wants Denzel Washington to play her father C.L. Franklin, a civil rights leader and Baptist minister. And she would love Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard to portray Motown star Smokey Robinson.

In her press release, Franklin, 68, says the actors she names are "enthusiastic about the project and have agreed to take on these roles, subject to further negotiation."

The planned biopic will be based on Franklin's autobiography, 'Aretha: From These Roots,' which hit the bestseller list 10 years ago when it was published. The iconic singer says she'll begin reviewing scripts next week.

Franklin's biggest hits include '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,' 'Chain of Fools,' 'Freeway of Love' and her signature song, 'Respect.'

Tags: ArethaFranklin, halle berry

Comments

(98)

Saturday 11 September

By WTF Aretha

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Halle Berry?!?!? How about Chuck or Fred Berry (Rerun, from What's Happening)

She may be the Queen of Soul but she's also the Queen of Lard!

By dragonflower

Oh I needed a good laugh today, this is a joke isn't it? Young or old, fat or skinny, Aretha should have never dreamed of Halle Berry, maybe Queen Latifah. And Denzel as her father.......no disrespect to him, but I think all that fried chicken has gone to her head.

Tuesday 18 January

By Indy

ROTFL...this is TOO FUNNY!!!! I couldn't have said it any better! Thanks for the laugh. Aretha has lost her mind!!!

By Betty

I guess if Diana Ross could play 16-year-old Dorothy in "The Wiz", Halle Berry can play Aretha as a young Aretha. Hey, it's Hollywood. Nothing is as it seems.

Thursday 03 February

By Lady WOV

Diana Ross playing Dorothy in The Wiz is a PERFECT example of miscasting that made that movie a joke!

By Jeff

Love Aretha Franklin, but holy cow she is as big as one. Her heart can't be healthy. I remember Howard Stern saying one time she is a great singer but go to any black church and you can find Aretha's everywhere.

Monday 17 January

ROTFL!!!!!!!!!! You are too funny!!!! I couldn't have said it any better! Aretha has lost her mind!!!

By Chaz Goodman

I can't beleive that this broad is still making demands. She better be happy with hairy legged, nasty Monique playing the roll. Hally?? Hahahahaha. Guess what? I just got a call to play Clarke Gable, and frankly my dear, "I don't give a damn".

By bob

HALLE BERRY??? WHY?, IS ERNEST BORGNINE BUSY?????

By OLDERBLUE

I think Steve Harris from "The Practice" with a little make-up could do a hell aof a beleivable job.

Sunday 12 September

By eri ca

Looks-wise, Halle would be okay. But you need a singer, Aretha! How about ANIKA ROSE?!

Monday 13 September

By Deb Dooley

Even as a young Aretha, Halle is the wrong choice. She's too old to play young Aretha and Aretha in her twenties and thirties was still way bigger than Halle. She needs Jennifer Hudson (who is small now like Aretha was when she was young AND she's got the pipes) to play young Aretha. And then maybe Monique to play older Aretha. Aretha IS trippin.

Sunday 07 November

By NEON

I think Aretha is having delusions of grandeur. Halle can't sing and Aretha wasn't nearly as gorgeous. In fact at her thinnest, Aretha was still chunky back in the day.

Friday 26 November

By indisbelief

HUH!

Wednesday 12 January

By mobileknow1

This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! Halle can't sing!!! this has to be a joke!

By ROTFL

This sort of thing happens when you get up in age like Aretha. You start to LOOSE YOUR MIND. Aretha must be crazy to even be considering Halle for this role. I love Halle. But the only thing Halle and Aretha have a going for themselves in acting and talent is - they happen to be of the female gender.

By This can't be good for Retha's heart...

ARETHA, HONEY....go head with your (eh em' cough, cough) self. Dr. King taught us to dream! So keep dreaming gurl!!!

Aretha and I are the same age, and I have followed her career from the beginning. I am a big fan of this legendary singer...her gift is phenomenal and has sustained over several decades. Having said that, I am absolutely astounded that Aretha would be so out of touch that she would see Halle Berry as the one to portray Aretha Franklin at ANY age! It would be too unbelievable. Just as it was so right for Halle to play Dorothy Dandridge, it would be so wrong for her to play Aretha.
Get real Aretha!! Don't force your audience to be so distracted by the actor that we lose the beauty of your story.

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