Universal Pictures has released the trailer for the upcoming biopic RESPECT, which chronicles the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom.
The movie, written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Liesl Tommy, tells the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice. The Queen of Soul is played by Jennifer Hudson, who is joined by Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Tate Donovan, Heather Headley, Skye Dakota Turner, and Mary J. Blige.
The teaser trailer features Hudson performing Aretha’s 1967 original version of “Respect,” a song written by written by Otis Redding and included on her eleventh studio album, “I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You,” released in 1967. Behind her, on stage, the word that gave the song title is spelled out n giant neon-style capital letters. Other juxtaposed scenes gives viewers a glimpse into her life and struggles as she rose to fame.
Another scene features the artist giving an empowering speech in front of a crowd, saying that “you have to disturb the peace when you can’t get no peace”.
Respect, which was originally scheduled to release in August, was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic and it will now have a limited release in the U.S. on Christmas Day, before a full wide release on January 15, 2021.