Respect Trivia | 30 facts about Aretha Franklin’s biographical movie

Respect is a 2021 American biographical musical drama film about Aretha Franklin’s life.

Let’s find out more about the film!

1. Respect is a 2021 American biographical musical drama film.
2. It was directed by Liesl Tommy in her feature directorial debut.
3. The script was written by Tracey Scott Wilson, Callie Khouri, and is based on the life of American singer Aretha Franklin.
4. The film stars Jennifer Hudson as Franklin.
5. Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, and Mary J. Blige act in supporting roles.
6. The film follows the first two decades of Franklin’s life, from being born as a musical prodigy in an affluent African-American family, the repercussions of losing her mother at age 10 to her arduous rise to international musical stardom, while enduring an abusive marriage, ultimately concluding with the recording of her influential live album Amazing Grace (1972).
7. A film on Franklin’s life was in development for a long time with Franklin herself involved in the pre-production, however the film languished in development hell for years due to lack of finding a suitable candidate.
8. Following release of the musical film Dreamgirls (2006), Franklin asked Hudson to play her but did not finalize her decision until seeing her in the Broadway musical The Color Purple. T
9. he film began production in early 2019.
10. Its production was concluded by February 2020.
11. The film is dedicated to Franklin, who died in 2018.
12. After much delay and postponement, due to the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic, Respect premiered in Los Angeles on August 8, 2021.
13. It was released theatrically in the United States on August 13, 2021, by United Artists Releasing, and in other territories by Universal Pictures.
14. The film grossed over $31 million and received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for the performances, the film’s production values and costume design.
15. Despite that it was backlashed for its formulaic screenplay and long runtime.
16. Aretha Franklin hand-picked Jennifer Hudson to play her.
17. Jennifer Hudson and Forest Whitaker both won Oscars in 2007. Hudson for Dreamgirls (2006) and Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland (2006).
18. Though the Aretha Franklin version of Respect is most commonly known, the song was originally written and recorded by Otis Redding. After the Aretha Franklin version was released and became popular, when Otis Redding performed the song live, he would joke that it was “a song that a girl took away from me.”
19. This will be the third film in which Jennifer Hudson and Forest Whitaker played daughter and father. The others were Winged Creatures (2008) and Black Nativity (2013).
20. Kimberly Scott who portrayed Aretha’s grandmother is only actually five months younger than Forest Whitaker who portrayed her son C. L. Franklin.
21. Both Jennifer Hudson and Aretha Franklin have more in common than being great soul singers. The ladies share a sinister connection in that both singers had parents who were victims of homicide by gunshots. In 1979 Aretha’s father, C.L. Franklin, was shot twice at point-blank range in his Detroit home and died in 1984 after a lengthy spell in a coma. In 2008, Jennifer’s mother, Darnell Donnerson, was fatally shot at her Chicago home.
22. Mary J. Blige (Dinah Washington) duetted with Aretha Franklin on the song “Never Gonna Break My Faith”, which was written by Bryan Adams, Eliot Kennedy and Andrea Remanda, and featured in the film Bobby (2006), directed by Emilio Estevez. The song won a Grammy for Best Gospel Song (2007) and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Song from a Motion Picture. In addition, Blige has also covered Ms. Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman”, which was featured on New York Undercover (1994) and S1m0ne (2002).
23. Audra McDonald and Heather Headley played Deena and Lorrell respectively in a 2001 concert version of “Dreamgirls”. Jennifer Hudson played Effie in the 2006 movie version.
24. Filming was briefly delayed when Jennifer Hudson required custom-made orthotics for plantar fasciitis.
25. Let it Be is NOT a Catholic song…the Mother Mary in the lyrics is referring to Paul McCartney’s mother Mary who died when he was 14 and the song was not written for Aretha.
26. Director Liesl Tommy has a cameo as the fan who greets Aretha in the hotel lobby.
27. The film’s soundtrack features one original song, “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)”, performed by Hudson.
28. As of October 20, 2021, Respect has grossed $24.3 million in the United States and Canada, and $7.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $31.5 million.
29. “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart dated August 28, 2021
30. Jennifer Hudson (who won and Oscar in her debut film of the musical Dreamgirls) and Heather Headley (Tony winner for the Aida musical on Broadway) have both played “Shug Avery” in the 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple. Headley took over the role when Hudson left. In a full circle moment, when Headley left, the role was taken over by Jennifer Holliday (the original “Effie” in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls).