It’ been quite a busy season for Lifetime. First the confirmed Whitney Houston biopic with Yaya DaCosta as lead, then the controversial Aaliyah biopic set to be played by Zendaya. And now, according to Billboard, the channel is looking to create a biopic with the legendary Aretha Franklin that tells the story of a Detroit preacher’s daughter’s rise to fame.
“We’re very, very close to signatures on one agreement,” says the Queen of Soul. “It’s just a matter of our coming to terms and agreeing about what we’re doing to do.”
The singer hasn’t confirmed who will play her, but she has a few front-runners that include singer Jennifer Hudson and Tony Award winner Audra McDonald.
Franklin’s upcoming album is set for a September release. She’s also scheduled to perform today at the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and will continue to perform throughout the summer.