Directed by Liesl Tommy Written by Tracey Scott Wilson   Callie Khouri   Cast Jennifer Hudson ... Aretha Franklin Forest Whitaker ... C. L. Franklin Marlon Wayans ... Ted White Tituss Burgess ... James Cleveland Audra McDonald ... Barbara Marc Maron ... Jerry Wexler Heather Headley ... Clara Ward Kimberly Scott ... Mama Franklin Hailey Kilgore ... Carolyn Franklin Saycon Sengbloh ... Erma Franklin LeRoy McClain ... Cecil Franklin (as Leroy McClain) Albert Jones ... Ken Cunningham Tate Donovan ... John Hammond Myk Watford ... Rick Hall Skye Dakota Turner ... Young Aretha Gilbert Glenn Brown ... Martin Luther King Jr. Mary J. Blige ... Dinah Washington Nevaeh Moore ... Young Carolyn Kennedy Chanel ... Young Erma Peyton Jackson ... Young Cecil Joe Knezevich ... Tom Dowd John Giorgio ... Chips Moman Shaun Schneider ... Charlie Chalmers Zach Strum ... David Hood Alec Barnes ... Jimmy Johnson Beau Scheier ... Joe Arnold David Simpson ... Spooner Oldham Joshua Mikel ... Roger Hawkins Henry Riggs ... Tommy Cogbill Brenda Nicole Moorer ... Brenda Lodric D. Collins ... Smokey (20 Years Old) Paul Rolfes ... Manager Drew Matthews ... Jack Frank Jason Michael Webb ... Alexander Hamilton Vance Taylor ... Art Tatum Rachel Nicks ... Vanessa David Shae ... Male Reporter Inga Eiss ... Interpreter William J. Simmons ... Clarence (5 Years Old) Jerel Xavier Alston ... Clarence (9 Years Old) Chase Burgess ... Edward (3 Years Old) Christopher Daniel ... Edward (7 Years Old) Melissa Lowe ... Secretary Christen Sharice ... Earline (as Christen Roberts) Eric Scott Ways ... Vernon Johnson Christopher Windom ... Oliver Jacinte Blankenship ... Party Guest Myron Parker Wright ... Party Guest Charity Jordan ... Party Guest Tara Wescott ... Party Guest Joe Gransden ... Trumpet Player Maurice Johnson ... Grieving Father Tangela Large ... Grieving Mother Brandon Gilpin ... Teenager (as Brandon 'Showtime Brando' Gilpin) Brian Bascle ... Mayor Cavanagh Jelani Alladin ... Jason Aba Arthur ... Miss Gold Tyner Rushing ... Gloria Fisher Hannah Lowther ... Olga Ethan Xavier Williams ... Ted Jr. (8 Years Old) Lelund Thompson ... Jackson (as Lelund Durond Thompson) Kelvin Hair ... Sam Cooke (as Kelvin Hair II) Rege Lewis ... Young Black Man Victor Wallace ... Young Black Man Marliss Amiea ... Black Singer Lydia Eku ... Handsome Black Woman Derrick James ... King Curtis Liesl Tommy ... Fan Iran Kuykendall ... Police Officer M. Jearl Vinot ... Sydney Pollack Malaki Sample ... Ted Jr. (2 Years Old) Jose Rivera ... Spanish Reporter Denis J. Collins Jr. ... Cambodian Reporter Uncredited Cast Abri ... Ted White's Prostitute Marcia Adams ... New York Fan Tutzy Rodgers ... Reporter Demetrius B. Banks ... Church Choir Singer (singing voice) Shane Berengue ... Reporter Gloria Bishop ... Concert Goer Kent Booker ... Elegant Guest Jamaal Burcher ... Ted's Doorman London Carlisle ... Cute Guy Shawn Ray Cartel ... Church Guest Carla Carvalho ... Harlem House Party Guest Zach Catanzareti ... Concert Fan Tony F. Charles ... Ralph Abernathy Fyodor Cherniavsky ... Conductor Nathan W. Collins ... Security Guard / Ball Attendee Ikennia Cross ... Choir Director Laura Darrell ... Party Girl Justine Edwards ... Elegant Party Guest Nichaela 'Noire' Eugene ... Choir Singer Linda D Gaines ... VIP Concert Fan Reese Giles ... Concert Atendee James E. Hammond ... Ahmet Ertegun Founder Atlantic Records Shiquita James ... Sharecropper Jay D. Kacho ... A&R Exec Travis L. King Jr. ... Drummer Bob Leszczak ... Outdoor Art Salesman Beorht Lewinski ... Cute Guy Jill Holder ... Upscale Party Guest Doris McCarthy ... Park Goer Alexandra McGuire ... Jazz Club Patron Lawrence Mclendon ... Audience Member Bryan Metoyer ... Concertgoer Christina D. Miller ... Concert Attendee / Church Member / Awards Concert Attendee / VIP Thelma R. Mitchell ... Ella Fitzgerald Mason Pike ... Violin Player Ricardo Quinones ... House Party Guest Rahiem Riley ... Formal Guest Leandra Ryan ... Alice Damani Sease ... Cute Guy Carla Shinall ... Fan D.J. Stavropoulos ... Record Executive / French Fan / New York Fan Eric Daniel Stumpp ... Reporter Marcallus T. Sunday II ... Party Guest / Concert Attendee / Church Member Corey Jason Thomas ... New Bethal Deacon Luisa Turner ... Ted's Prostitute Chris Ward ... Photographer Victoria Paige Watkins ... Teen #2 Berry Williams Jr. ... Church Member Alzie Williams ... Concert Fan Audrey Williams ... Choir Member Chris Williams ... Tyrell / Bellhop Michelle L. Williams ... Party Guest / Church Member / Concert Attendee Olaolu Winfunke ... Hans Rob Wood ... Aretha's Saxophonist Perry Zulu Jr. ... Count Basie Produced by Sue Baden-Powell   Scott Bernstein   Jason Cloth   Aaron L. Gilbert   Jonathan Glickman   Jennifer Hudson   Harvey Mason Jr.   Stacey Sher   Liesl Tommy   Original Music by Kris Bowers

Additional Info Premiere: August 12, 2021 Theatrical Release: August 13, 2021 DVD Release: November 09, 2021 Blu-ray Release: November 09, 2021 Countries: Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Websites: Production Companies Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) BRON Studios (as BRON Creative) Creative Wealth Media Finance Glickmania Distributors Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)   (2020) (USA) (theatrical) United Artists Releasing   (2020) (USA) (theatrical) (through) Studio Distribution Services (SDS)   (2021) (USA) (Blu-ray) (through) Studio Distribution Services (SDS)   (2021) (USA) (DVD) (through) Studio Distribution Services (SDS)   (2021) (USA) (all media) (Ultra HD Blu-ray) (through) Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE)   (2021) (USA) (Blu-ray) Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE)   (2021) (USA) (DVD) Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE)   (2021) (USA) (all media) (Ultra HD Blu-ray) Rating Stats Overall Rating 6.6 / 10 Our Rating -- / 10 Your Friends -- / 10 Male Users -- / 10 Female Users -- / 10 Site Ranking #3,771 / 20,698 Site Ranking #3,767 The Son Of No One (2011) #3,768 3 From Hell (2019) #3,769 Emma (2009) #3,770 Daddy Day Camp (2007) #3,771 Respect (2021) #3,772 Toy Story Of Terror (2013) #3,773 Charmed: Season 1 (2018) #3,774 Charmed: Season 3 (2021) #3,775 Charmed: Season 4 (2022)