See Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in First Teaser for Respect

There are few icons who shone as brightly and powerfully as Aretha Franklin. So when you’re making a biopic about her, casting someone to try and fill her shoes is…not easy. Yet if there was any star who could pull it off, it’s gotta be Jennifer Hudson. Now you can see Hudson in the first teaser for Respect, just released by MGM. The film will follow Franklin’s incredible life and career, from a little girl singing in the church choir to one of the most towering figures in music history.

While this teaser doesn’t give you much of a sense of the film, it does show off Hudson’s incredible voice and star power. If you can watch this 44-second teaser without getting the chills, you’re made of sterner stuff than we are.

There’s a lot to be excited about considering Hudson really seems like the perfect choice to play Franklin. Your director is Liesl Tommy, a veteran of TV (The Walking Dead, Queen Sugar, Jessica Jones) making her feature debut here. She’s certainly taking on someone who was truly larger than life, and it’ll be interesting to see what Tommy and her screenwriter Tracey Scott Wilson (The Americans, Fosse/Verdon) does with the story of Franklin’s life. Will this be a standard biopic? Or will they go for something a little more singular, considering their subject is one of the most beloved, important performers ever?

Joining Hudson are Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan, and Mary J. Blige.

Here’s the Respect teaser for your viewing and listening pleasure. The film opens on October 9, 2020.

Here’s the official synopsis for Respect:

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.

Featured image: Jennifer Hudson is Aretha Franklin in ‘Respect.’ Courtesy MGM