From Black Is King To “The Color Purple”, Ghanaian Director Blitz Bazawule To Direct Musical For Warner Bros
Ghanaian creative and Film Director Samuel Bazawule has scored yet another major feat after his work on Beyonce’s Black Is King.
Blitz Bazawule who made his directorial debut with The Burial of Kojo has been penned to direct Warner Bros. musical film The Color Purple, based on the Tony-winning Broadway musical.
American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey in a tweet extolled the work of the Ghanaian creative describing him as having “the perfect director’s brush for the next evolution of this beloved story.”
From #BlackIsKing to now #TheColorPurple, @blitzambassador has the perfect director’s brush for the next evolution of this beloved story. He blew us away with his unique vision for the upcoming musical film version and we can’t wait for you to see it 💜💜 https://t.co/foaMF74635
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) August 24, 2020
Blitz Bazawule also expressed appreciation to Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones and Scott Sanders who will produce the musical alongside Warner Bros Studios
Honored to reimagine Alice Walker's classic novel 'The Color Purple' for a new generation. Beyond grateful to have the legends Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones and Scott Sanders as my Producers alongside Warner Bros Studios. Get ready for something AMAZING!!
🙏🏿💜🙏🏿 https://t.co/F288L8FQBH— Blitz Bazawule (@BlitzAmbassador) August 24, 2020
According to Deadline, the screenplay is being written by Marcus Gardley.
The story depicts the lives of African American families and relationships in early twentieth-century Georgia.
The musical, featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, blues and African rhythms, has a book by Marsha Norman with music by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.
