Sherri Dennis // Entertainment // EEW Magazine Online

“You sho’ is ugly!” Who’s ready to hear Taraji P. Henson deliver that line?

Well, the Golden Globe winner is set to star as Shug Avery in Blitz Bazawule’s “The Color Purple,” a forthcoming Warner Bros. film adapted from the Tony-winning Broadway musical—an adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, reports Variety.

Marcus Gardley (“The Chi”) wrote the screenplay directed by Bazawule who worked on Beyoncé’s “Black is King.”

Henson, 51, is perfect for the role of Shug Avery, a jazz and blues singer, and Mister’s long-time mistress who becomes Celie’s confidante. She has the spice, attitude, acting and singing chops to pull it off.

Henson recently showed off her vocal ability as Miss. Hannigan in NBC’s “Annie Live!” for which she nabbed an NAACP Image Award for outstanding actress in a television movie, limited series or dramatic special.

It is undeniable that her career is on fire.

If Henson’s addition to the cast isn’t enough to get you excited, Oprah Winfrey, who landed her first feature acting gig in Spielberg’s “The Color Purple,” is producing the new movie under her Harpo Films banner alongside Spielberg for his Amblin Entertainment.

Talk about a full-circle moment and a hefty dose of Black excellence.

Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones, who also produced the Broadway musical, are producers. Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker, Mara Jacobs, Carla Gardini, Kristie Macosko Krieger and Adam Fell are executive producers.

Henson is in good company.

She joins Corey Hawkins (“In The Heights,” “The Tragedy of Macbeth”) as Harpo (Willard Pugh in the 1985 film), while Grammy winner H.E.R. landed the role of Squeak (Rae Dawn Chong).

In 2020, Henson started her own production company, TPH Entertainment, run by Christine Conley and founded the haircare line, TPH by Taraji. Season 2 of her Facebook Watch series “Peace of Mind with Taraji” premiered last fall.

“The Color Purple” is set to be released on December 20, 2023.