“The Color Purple”: Read Marcus Gardley’s script that takes a fresh approach to an iconic story

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series, which highlights the year’s most talked about screenplays, continues The color purple, directed by Blitz Bazawule and written by Marcus Gardley. The music-packed film features a star-studded cast that includes Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Halle Bailey, Corey Hawkins and more.

Alice Walker’s 1983 Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name was originally made into a 1985 film by Steven Spielberg starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. The story was then adapted into a musical created by Marsha Norman, which ran on Broadway from 2005 to 2008 and was revived in 2015. This musical was subsequently adapted for the screen by Gardley, whose writing credits include the screenplay The Chi and this Z: The beginning of everythingand the Warner Bros. film was born, with Winfrey and Steven Spielberg from the original film returning as producers.

The story revolves around Celie (Barrino), a young black woman living in rural Georgia in the early 20th century. Celie had to deal with racism, sexism and abuse from the people around her throughout her life. Despite these problems, the loving relationships she forms with certain women in her life, including her sister Nettie (Bailey) and singer Shug Avery (Henson), give Celie the courage to find her voice and become independent.

One of the most emotional and powerful parts of Celie’s journey is when she finally stands up to her abusers and demands respect and equality. After being abused and oppressed for so long, there are moments that mark a major turning point for Celie as she regains her identity and refuses to be silenced any longer.

Using the perspective of Cecile’s imagination to portray parts of this journey allowed Bazawule, Gardley and eventually Barrino, who played the role on Broadway, to return to a new version of Walker’s story.

“This is sacred work and sacred ground,” Bazuwale said on Deadline’s “Contenders Film: Los Angeles.” “The color purple is a critical and important text for so many people in the healing industry. So if you have nothing to say, you might as well keep your mouth shut.”

The color purple which premiered in theaters on Christmas Day and opened with an A CinemaScore for an estimated $18 million; The current worldwide gross is $48.1 million. The film received critical acclaim: Barrino and Brooks each received a Golden Globe nomination, and the film received a Critics Choice nomination for Best Picture.

Click below to read the script.