Here's Where The Color Purple (2023) Was Actually Filmed
The 1985 motion picture "The Color Purple" had Steven Spielberg in the director's chair and served as Quincy Jones' debut as a film composer. Now the two are back in action once again as producers, along with Scott Sanders, a producer of the 2016 Tony-winning Broadway revival, with a song-infused cinematic take on the classic period drama directed by Blitz Bazawule. Some fans might be eager to know where the exciting musical motion picture was shot.
A report from Backstage.com confirmed that shooting took place outside of Atlanta. To narrow it down, news outlets like WJCL 22 News revealed that some of the production occurred in Savannah, Georgia, while 13WMAZ.com reported that filming would cause traffic delays as well as road closures in Macon. Members of the cast have also indicated that the second movie adaptation was being made in the Peach State.
"Peacemaker" star Danielle Brooks, who plays the role of Sofia in the coming-of-age musical, mentioned the location where the cameras were rolling and how a certain influential individual from the original flick was also on set. "I am working on 'Color Purple' right now, we're shooting in Georgia," the actress said in an interview with Yahoo. "Miss Oprah is very much hands-on, she's been there while I'm saying some of the most iconic lines in the movie which has been crazy. But I've been able to maintain my calmness and be cool." Oprah Winfrey, who serves as producer on the latest interpretation, made her way to the 24th state to see how things were going, and her reaction to it all was absolutely priceless.
Oprah cried tears of joy on set watching Danielle Brooks as Sofia
While Oprah Winfrey is most known for her infamous talk show, the media mogul has a solid number of film credits with notable titles on the roster, like "Beloved" and "A Wrinkle in Time." But while all her work is usually impressive, her performance in "The Color Purple" earned her significant praise. She even earned nominations from the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress for portraying Sofia in the original feature.
Those prestigious honors don't come easy, and the entire endeavor seemed to have been an impactful moment in her legacy, especially considering how Winfrey reacted when she was on set in Georgia witnessing another talented actress play her part in the 2023 musical reimagining. "I unexpectedly burst into happy tears at the very first sight of the gifted Danielle Brooks, who played Sofia on Broadway and now in this reincarnation," Oprah revealed in a post on Oprah Daily. "It felt like the baton was truly being passed on in one of the most special moments in my life. We both hugged and ugly cried together."
Brooks' efforts on set in Georgia as Sofia got the tear-inducing seal of approval from the actress that first portrayed her on the big screen in 1985, and it's probably safe to assume Oprah has her fingers crossed that Brooks will have the same success she experienced if not more. Fans can compare the two performances when "The Color Purple" releases on December 25, 2023.