Respect (2021)

South African Liesl Tommy (Mrs Fletcher, The Walking Dead, Jessica Jones) directs Respect, a music biopic about the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson plays the lead role – after being recommended by Aretha herself after she saw Dreamgirls.

The cast includes Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (Godfather of Harlem), Audra McDonald (The Good Fight) and Tate Donovan (Argo), Marlon Wayans (White Chicks), Marc Maron (GLOW), Saycon Sengbloh (The Wonder Years), and nine-time Grammy winner Mary J Blige.

Hollywood Reporter calls Respect, “An intimate gift of love, rich in complexity, spirituality, Black pride and feminist grit,” while Observer says, “Jennifer Hudson as Aretha is the whole deal.”