Speaking about Ciara’s casting as the older version of her character, Bailey said to Entertainment Tonight: “I love Ciara so much, so it’s super cool.

“I mean, it’s historic because we grew up watching The Color Purple, everybody knows the story, so, I’m just grateful to be a part of it and bringing my own thing to it,” she added.

Orange Is The New Black’s Danielle Brooks will also reprise the role of Sofia, which she played on Broadway from 2015 to 2017, earning a Tony award in the process.

Other confirmed cast members also include recent Oscar nominee and King Richard star Aunjanue Ellis who will play Mama, mother to Celie and Nettie. The Dropout’s Elizabeth Marvel will also be joining the cast as Miss Millie – the unpleasant and overbearing mayor’s wife who hires Sofia (played by Brooks) to be her maid. The character was played by Dana Ivey in Spielberg’s 1985 film.

Corey Hawkins (In The Heights, Straight Outta Compton) and Oscar and Grammy-winning artist H.E.R will also star in the new film as Harpo (originally played by Willard Pugh in the 1985 film) and Squeak (previously played by Rae Dawn Chong) respectively.

Phylicia Mpasi will play the younger Celie, while Zola star Colman Domingo will appear as Mister, Celie’s husband.

The Color Purple: watch the first trailer for the star-studded musical film