A Guide to 2023's 'The Color Purple' Cast (Plus the Trailer and Release Date)

The Color Purple follows the respective stories of four women who survive their abusive relationships with the help of one another. Set in the South circa the early 1900s, this iteration of The Color Purple follows the 1985 version of the same name, and is a film adaptation of both Alice Walker's 1982 novel and the stage production. The Color Purple was originally announced in 2018, with production beginning in March 2022. Filming wrapped in July 2022.

Singer and actress Fantasia Barrino stars as Celie Harris-Johnson, a woman who has been torn apart from her sister, and has had to endure her fair share of hardships—including dealing with an abusive husband. Barrino first rose to prominence in the early 2000s through the show American Idol, achieving breakthrough success with her 2004 debut album Free Yourself. For her role as Celie, Barrino has already snagged a Golden Globe nomination.

As most of us learned in 2005's Hustle & Flow, Taraji P. Henson is no stranger to putting her vocal chops on display (she actually performed "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" at the Oscars). In The Color Purple, Henson is the sultry seductive songstress Shug Avery. Ms. Avery has quite the reputation around town, but despite what people may say about her, she's actually really genuine and caring.

Julliard graduate Danielle Brooks reprises her broadway role of Sofia, whom she portrayed from 2015 to 2017. Brooks has many additional credits to her name including starring as Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson is the popular television series Orange is the New Black, along with appearances in the films Clemency (2019) and The Day Shall Come (2019) along with others. Brooks will next be seen in 2025's Minecraft.

Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo has tons of credits to his name including: The Birth of a Nation (2016), Candyman (2021), Transformers: Rise of the Beast (2023), and more. In The Color Purple, Domingo portrays the main antagonist Albert "Mister" Johnson—the abusive husband of Celie who's bitter that he was turned down by the woman he really wanted to be with.

First rising to fame for his roles in The Walking Dead (2015 - 2017), and Straight Outta Compton (2015), Corey Hawkins stars as Harpo Johnson who's in a continuous battle between good and evil. When Harpo is good—he's really good. On the flip side, when Harpo is evil—he's really evil. Harpo is also rather misogynistic, which further leads to his rash impulsive nature and decision making that ultimately winds up affecting his marriage to his Sofia.

Singer and actress H.E.R. takes on the role of Squeak aka Mary Agnes—a young woman who starts off very meek and quiet, but soon grows to discover her strength and voice. At 27-year-old, H.E.R. has already received an Academy Award, five Grammy Awards, a Children's and Family Emmy Award, a Golden Globe nomination, three American Music Awards, and four Billboard Music Awards.

Halle Bailey concludes a very successful 2023 (one which also saw her starring as Ariel in The Little Mermaid) with her portrayal as the younger version of Nettie. Halle's role as young Nettie has already gotten her nominations at the Saturn Awards, the Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and the Black Reel Awards.

Acclaimed actress Aunjanue Ellis (The Birth of a Nation (2016), King Richard (2021), When They See Us (2019), Lovecraft Country (2021)) stars as Mama—the mother of Celie and Nettie whom herself has had a turbulent life full of ups and downs. It's also eventually revealed that Mama kept some very important family secrets from her daughters, which adds another layer to the relationship dynamics.

The Grammy Award-winning Ciara portrays the older version of Nettie in The Color Purple. The sister of Celie, Nettie starts off reserved and quiet, but ends up finding her voice as well with the progression of time. Nettie is incredibly intelligent, and eventually proves herself to be the one that loves Celie the most wholeheartedly out of everybody.