'Was praying that the strike would be over': The Color Purple producer Oprah Winfrey on the SAG-AFTRA fiasco

Oprah Winfrey turned producer for the much-awaited movie The Color Purple which is a remake of the 1985 movie of the same name which also starred her in one of the lead roles. The film stars Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P Henson, and Danielle Brooks in the lead roles. Ahead of the release of the movie which is based on the novel by Alice Walker, Oprah reveals why she desperately wanted the SAG-AFTRA strike to be over. She also spills the bean on whether pop sensation Beyonce was ever considered for the project.

Oprah Winfrey on the SAG-AFTRA strike

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Oprah said, “One of the reasons why I was praying, praying, praying that the strike would be over is because I so wanted this experience, the experience that I had with The Color Purple in my life, to be shared by all of these women. I thought, ‘If the strike doesn’t end, they will never get to have that ride.’ And there’s nothing like that ride. There’s nothing like being out in the world, being able to talk about it and share the beautiful energy of everything that Alice wanted when she wrote that story. It’s like every time we speak, we get to talk the ancestors up. And so there’s not a person in this film who doesn’t realize that the film is bigger than all of us.”

Also Read: The Color Purple: A journey from page to screen to stage and back again 

Oprah Winfrey on whether Beyonce was supposed to star in the movie

Winfrey further revealed how the pressure for the movie to be a hit was palpable and there was an expectation to rope in Beyonce or Rihanna. She said, “To be completely honest about it, if you were doing this film for $30 or $40 million, the interest in the cast would be very different. Once the film moved to $90 to $100 million, then everybody wanted us to bring Beyoncé. Can you get Beyoncé or can you get Rihanna?’ So we’re sitting in a room saying, ‘Listen, we love Beyoncé. We love Rihanna, but other actors can do this job.’ I do remember conversations about, ‘Y’all, Beyoncé is going to be busy this year.’ It wasn’t even a negotiation, because you’re not getting Beyoncé.”

Also Read: Oprah Winfrey's noticeable 40-pound weight loss captures attention 

The Color Purple revolves around a gut-wrenching tale of a Black woman named Celie who suffers sexual and physical abuse from the men in her life. She is furthermore separated from her children after giving birth to them. The movie delves deep into the torment she goes through as society makes her believe that she is unworthy of love.