The 2023 musical remake of The Color Purple features an outstanding and robust cast of talented actors. Inspired by the original 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker, The Color Purple was first adapted to film in 1985 by director Steven Spielberg. The Color Purple remake was directed by Blitz Bazawule who made his feature film directorial debut with the celebrated 2018 drama The Burial of Kojo. The Color Purple was released in theaters in the United States on Christmas Day 2023.
Spielberg’s original adaptation of The Color Purple also featured an exceptional cast led by Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for an incredible 11 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and 2 for Supporting Actress. The Color Purple remake also received positive critical reception, earning one Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards.
Where To Watch The Color Purple 2023 On Streaming
2023’s The Color Purple movie adaptation brings a musical twist to the story, and viewers can watch it in theaters or at home on streaming later.
Fantasia Barrino as Celie Harris-Johnson
Actor: Fantasia Barrino, 39, is a well-known singer and actor who first rose to prominence after winning the third season of American Idol. Barrino, who was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina, has been nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in The Color Purple as well as 12 Grammy Awards throughout her career, winning once in 2011 for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. She made her Broadway debut as Celie in The Color Purple in 2007.
Notable Movies & TV Shows:American Idol (2004), The Simpsons (2005), The Color Purple on Broadway (2007), The Color Purple remake (2023).
Character: Fantasia Barrino plays the main character Celie Harris Johnson in the 2023 The Color Purple remake.
Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery
Actor: Taraji P. Henson, 53, is a decorated actress and Golden Globe winner who has also received nominations for an Academy Award (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and 4 Primetime Emmy Awards. Henson first rose to prominence for her role as a sex worker in Hustle & Flow (2005). She is arguably best known for her leading role as Katherine Johnson in the celebrated 2016 film Hidden Figures. She has also starred in the CBS drama series Person of Interest and the Fox series Empire.
Notable Movies & TV Shows:The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Person of Interest (2011–2015), Hidden Figures (2016), Empire (2015–2020), Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022).
Character: Taraji P. Henson plays Shug Avery in the 2023 The Color Purple remake.
Danielle Brooks as Sofia
Actor: Danielle Brooks, 34, is an American actress from Georgia. She rose to prominence from her role as Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019). Brooks was also featured in the Broadway adaptation of The Color Purple as Sofia, a role which earned her a Tony Award nomination and a Grammy Award. Brooks, who also received an Emmy nomination as an executive producer on Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia, is the only actor or actress who received a nomination for The Color Purple at the 2024 Academy Awards.
Notable Movies & TV Shows:Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019), Girls (2014), Master of None (2015–2017), Minecraft (2025).
Character: Danielle Brooks reprises her role as Sofia in the 2023 The Color Purple remake.
The Color Purple’s 8 Biggest Differences To Steven Spielberg’s Movie
Although they stem from the same source, Blitz Bazawule’s The Color Purple adaptation differs from Steven Spielberg’s original film in several ways.
Colman Domingo as Albert “Mister” Johnson
Actor: Colman Domingo, 54, is a prominent American stage and screen actor who has won an Emmy for his role in the HBO series Euphoria. Domingo is also nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award for his performance in Rustin. Domingo first rose to prominence for his role as Mr. Bones in the Broadway musical The Scottsboro Boys (2011), for which he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Domingo also played Victor Strand in the AMC series Fear the Walking Dead (2015-2023).
Notable Movies & TV Shows:Lincoln (2012), Selma (2014), Fear the Walking Dead (2015-2023), Euphoria (2019–present), Drive-Away Dolls (2024).
Character: Colman Domingo plays Albert “Mister” Johnson in the 2023 The Color Purple remake.
Corey Hawkins as Harpo Johnson
Actor: Corey Hawkins, 35, is an American actor from Washington D.C. who rose to prominence from his captivating performance as Dr. Dre in Straight Outta Compton (2015). Hawkins also appeared in the acclaimed series The Walking Dead from 2015 to 2016. Hawkins was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his portrayal of Paul in the series Survive (2020). He has also appeared in BlacKkKlansman (2018), 6 Underground (2019), In the Heights (2021), and The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021).
Notable Movies & TV Shows:The Walking Dead (2015–2016), Straight Outta Compton (2015), BlacKkKlansman (2018), 6 Underground (2019), In the Heights (2021), The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021).
Character: Corey Hawkins plays Harpo Johnson in the 2023 The Color Purple remake.
Halle Bailey as Nettie Harris
Actor: Halle Bailey, 23, is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and a prominent rising actress. She rose to prominence after starring in the Disney live-action remake of The Little Mermaid as Ariel (2023). She was also a series regular on the ABC sitcom Grown-ish (2018–2022). She is in the musical duo Chloe x Halle with her older sister Chloe Bailey. Halle Bailey got her start on the Disney Channel, appearing in Disney television movies such as Let It Shine (2012).
Notable Movies & TV Shows:Last Holiday (2006), Grown-ish (2018–2022), The Line (2023), The Little Mermaid (2023)
Character: Halle Bailey plays Nettie Harris in the 2023 The Color Purple remake.
The Color Purple 2023 Ending Explained
The Color Purple gets the musical treatment in its second film adaptation. The film’s ending has a few revelations and we break down the biggest ones.
The Color Purple Supporting Cast & Characters
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Mama: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Oscar-nominated actress known for her roles in The Help (2011), The Birth of a Nation (2016), If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), and King Richard (2021).
H.E.R. as Mary “Squeak” Agnes: H.E.R. is the stage name of Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson who has won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and five Grammy Awards. She made her feature film acting debut in The Color Purple.
Jon Batiste as Grady: Jon Batiste is a well-known singer, producer, composer, and actor who has won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and 5 Grammy Awards. He and his group Stay Human were regular performers on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Elizabeth Marvel as Miss Millie: Elizabeth Marvel is a well-known actress known for her roles in House of Cards, Homeland, Burn After Reading, Fargo, and Manifest.
Deon Cole as Alfonso: Deon Cole is a prominent stand-up comedian, writer, and actor known for Black-ish and Wild ‘n Out. He was previously a staff writer on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.
Louis Gossett Jr. as Ol’ Mister Johnson: Louis Gossett Jr. is an Emmy and Academy Award-winning actor who has appeared in Roots and An Officer and a Gentleman.
David Alan Grier as Rev. Samuel Avery: David Alan Grier is a widely experienced stage and screen actor and comedian known for Streamers and They Cloned Tyrone.
Whoopi Goldberg as a Midwife: Whoopi makes a guest cameo as a midwife in The Color Purple musical remake. She starred as Celie in the original.
Ciara as Older Nettie: Singer, model, and actress Ciara appears as Older Nettie in The Color Purple.
The Color Purple (2023)
Based on the novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple is a drama-musical film by director Blitz Bazawule. The film centers on Celie, a young African American woman living through the tumultuous era of the early 1900s in the South who finds her independence through a budding sisterhood that she cultivates over decades.
- Release Date
- December 25, 2023
- Director
- Blitz Bazawule
- Cast
- Taraji P. Henson , Danielle Brooks , Colman Domingo , Corey Hawkins , Halle Bailey , H.E.R. , Phylicia Pearl Mpasi , Fantasia Barrino
- Writers
- Marcus Gardley
- Studio(s)
- Harpo Films , Amblin Entertainment , Scott Sanders Productions , Quincy Jones Productions
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
