Adapted from the hit 2005 Broadway stage musical (which was later revived in 2015), “The Color Purple” marks the second big-screen take on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel of the same name after the non-musical 1985 film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Danny Glover (among others). But for all its initial critical and commercial success, Spielberg himself would tell you he didn’t quite hit the mark with his telling of Walker’s story about Celie Harris-Johnson, a queer Black woman, and the hardships she endures living in early 20th-century Georgia. It’s part of what inspired him to team up with Winfrey to produce the movie musical alongside Quincy Jones and Scott Sanders.
Fantasia Barrino, reprising her role from the original Broadway show, leads the star-studded cast of 2023’s “The Color Purple” as Celie, with Colman Domingo, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Corey Hawkins, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Halle Bailey among those filling out the ensemble. The movie will also become available to buy on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD starting March 12, 2024, before streaming on Max at a yet-to-be-announced date. However, those who pick up a hard copy will get additional bonus features like “Creating The Color Purple: A Bold New Take on the Beloved Classic” and “Hell Yes! The Iconic Characters of The Color Purple,” in which the cast and crew talk about their characters and adapting Walker’s source material.
Another featurette, titled “In the Flow: Creating The Color Purple’s Biggest Musical Moments,” will feature rehearsal footage, while “A Story for Me: The Legacy of The Color Purple” is all about the enduring power of Walker’s original novel and its many retellings. All in all, there are plenty of reasons to add this one to your home media collection, if you’re so inclined.