Warner Bros. Just Released the Color Purple Trailer & Fans Are Already Emotional

Last February, Oprah Winfrey announced the revival of “The Color Purple,” a 1985 film produced by Steven Spielberg starring Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Laurence Fishburne based on Alice Walker’s 1982 book of the same name. As Winfrey personally contacted cast members to let them know they earned the part, emotions ran high as they prepared to bring this moving story to the big screen for the second time.

“I have such love for her, this character, everything she represents, and everything she brought to my life. And what I’m hoping is that she does the same thing for you,” Winfrey told Danielle Brooks who reprises Winfrey's character Sofia in the upcoming film.

Now the trailer for the film has been released, along with a star studded cast featuring Fantasia, also reprising her Broadway role as Celie, Brooks, who previously earned a Tony nomination for her Broadway portrayal of Sofia, Taraji P. Henson, playing Shug Avery, Colman Domingo as Mister, Halle Bailey as Young Nettie, H.E.R. as Squeak, Corey Hawkins as Harpo and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Mama.

Building anticipation

The film is a beloved one for the Black community, following a story of sisterhood, triumph, and love in the face of extreme adversity. Winfrey, Spielberg, and Quincy Jones are executive producing the new musical film alongside director Blitz Bazawule (“Black is King”), Variety reports. Author Alice Walker also joins as an executive producer and the film script was written by Marcus Gardley (“The Chi”).

Fantasia, Taraji, Danielle Brooks and H.E.R watch the trailer of #TheColorPurple for the first time with Oprah. pic.twitter.com/WGGEeGwxq5
— Fantasia News Daily (@fantasia_daily) May 23, 2023

Winfrey joined Fantasia, Henson, Brooks and H.E.R. to view the trailer for the first time before its release, the cast equally stunned by the beautiful cinematic release giving viewers a sneak peek into Celie’s story. Visibly moved, the cast recites their favorite lines among laughs and sighs as they relive the emotional story all over. Winfrey shouts their names when the credits roll, just as Henson grabs a tissue to wipe her tears.

Fans were equally emotional after the trailer’s release, many taking to Winfrey’s social media to express their excitement for the film!

“Cannot wait. Crying on credit cuz I know this film is about to break our hearts and build us up at the same time,” wrote author Luvvie Ajayi Jones.

“Oprah!!? Which theatre you going to so I can purchase my seat ticket next to you!,” added content creator Derrick Downey Jr.

Empowerment

Winfrey spoke to reporters about her own excitement around the film and the importance of the reboot nearly four decades after the original.

“As long there is a need for self-discovery, self-empowerment, as long as there is a need for victory in someone’s life, as long as there is a need for people to know what it feels like to be loved up and to be made full and hold to somebody else’s love, there will be a need for ‘The Color Purple,'” she said.

“The Color Purple” hits theaters in the U.S. on Christmas Day. The film will be released internationally beginning January 18, 2024. Check out the trailer for “The Color Purple” below.