Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty
When it comes to the hierarchy of pop music royalty, it really doesn’t get any higher in the world of Black entertainment than Beyoncé or Rihanna.
Both neck-and-neck in the quadruple threat lane of being a singer, dancer, actress and businesswoman, both Bey and Rih have maintained a status in the industry that puts them at the forefront of consideration when it comes to any major project in the media. That’s why it was interesting when media maven Oprah Winfrey, executive producer on the soon-to-be-released musical remake film to The Color Purple, revealed that movie execs were heavily considering either casting the RENAISSANCE queen or the Unapologetic star as the film’s lead actress.
#TheColorPurple director Blitz Bazawule had to fight to get the cast he wanted for the movie. Oprah Winfrey acknowledges there was some pressure to cast a star like Beyoncé or Rihanna: https://t.co/EdhvYK8uGE pic.twitter.com/vmFzL9hND4
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) December 12, 2023
RELATED: The Best Looks From ‘The Color Purple’ Press Tour
Harpo made the revelation while gracing the latest cover of The Hollywood Reporter alongside the film’s leading actresses Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson and Danielle Brooks, telling the publication, “To be completely honest about it, if you were doing this film for $30 or $40 million, the interest in the cast would be very different. Once the film moved to $90 to $100 million, then everybody wants us to bring Beyoncé — ‘Can you get Beyoncé or can you get Rihanna?’” She went on to add, “So we’re sitting in a room saying, ‘Listen, we love Beyoncé. We love Rihanna, but there are other actors who can do this job.’ I do remember conversations about, ‘Y’all, Beyoncé is going to be busy this year.’ It wasn’t even a negotiation, because you’re not getting Beyoncé.”
Granted, Bey was quite busy these past few years with releasing her seventh studio album, the GRAMMY-winning RENAISSANCE, in addition to embarking on an accompanying world tour and producing a theatrical film component to boot. Rihanna on the other hand has been busy embarking on first-time motherhood, giving birth to sons in 2022 and 2023, respectively, alongside hip-hop star boyfriend A$AP Rocky. However, while both divas are sure shot hitmakers on Billboard, neither one has been heralded for their work in Hollywood in the vain of similar soul singer/actresses like Janet Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Brandy or the late Whitney Houston and Aaliyah to name a few.
Based on appearance and simple common sense, we can only assume it was for the role of Shug Avery, which of course went to the Oscar-nominated Henson. There’s also the minor role of adult Nettie to consider, played by Ciara, which given their star power we doubt either lady would’ve agreed to — not to mention, Rihanna definitely wasn’t about to star alongside Ci-Ci!
Scheduling aside though, do you think either Bey or Rih have the chops to pull off such a culturally prominent roll?
Take a look at what some are saying about the sheer thought of pop queens Beyoncé or Rihanna starring in The Color Purple, and then let us known what you think of the potential casting:
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