The Oprah Winfrey Network will give viewers an inside look into the making of “The Color Purple” in the hour-long special “OWN Celebrates The New Color Purple,” which premieres Friday at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Oprah Winfrey, who executive produced the new adaptation, hosts the behind-the-scenes special, conducting interviews with the film’s cast and offering an intimate look at how the story became a cultural phenomenon. Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R. and Fantasia Barrino — who stars as Celie — will share how they prepared to portray their roles in the film. Director Blitz Bazawule, screenwriter Marcus Gardley, choreographer Fatima Robinson and costume designer Francine Jamison-Tanchuck will also discuss how they reimagined the classic story through their contributions.
Winfrey will also reflect on the impact that playing Sofia in the 1985 film had on her life — beyond earning a best supporting Oscar actress nomination — and the relevance of the themes in “The Color Purple” today. Additionally, the special will include exclusive conversations between Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, as well as Alice Walker, the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Color Purple.”
The new special is the latest promotional push for “The Color Purple,” which hits theaters on Dec. 25. The 1985 film, starring Whoopi Goldberg, Winfrey and Danny Glover, will air Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on OWN, while Winfrey also named the movie to her eagerly anticipated list of “Favorite Things” for this holiday season, with the commemorative tickets arriving in collectible packaging.
Last month, Barrino was honored at PvNew’s Power of Women ceremony, presented by Lifetime, in honor of her return to the role 15 years after the “American Idol’ winner starred in the Broadway show. Winfrey introduced Barrino and spoke of the actor’s role in bringing the new “Color Purple” to life.
“Several years ago, as a producer, I watched Fantasia embody the character of Celie on the Broadway stage, and I thought, ‘Well, what could top that?’ And this year, I saw what could top that,” Winfrey said. “To watch Fantasia re-embody, re-imagine and re-invent Celie for our film was to actually witness triumph in action.”
“OWN Celebrates The New Color Purple” is produced for OWN by Harpo Productions.
