The Color Purple Musical Will Be Adapted for the Big Screen

It has been confirmed that Warner Bros. is developing a new film adaptation of the stage musical The Color Purple, produced by its Broadway backers Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, and Scott Sanders.

The property began as a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and was first adapted for the screen in 1985 with direction by Steven Spielberg, who also joins the upcoming project as a producer.

The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2005, features a book by Marsha Norman; and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. Director John Doyle revived the musical in 2015 with a production that earned the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and brought about the Broadway debut of breakout star Cynthia Erivo, who earned the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Celie.

The film is in early stages of development, and casting is yet to be announced.