Jennifer Hudson, who was hand-picked by Aretha Franklin to play her in her biopic Respect, has given her opinion on the upcoming National Geographic miniseries Genius: Aretha.

While the film was made with Franklin’s blessing before her passing in 2018, the National Geographic miniseries starring Cynthia Erivo didn’t receive that honor, even though National Geographic claims its project is “the first-ever, definitive, and only authorized scripted limited series on the life of Aretha Franklin.” Hudson commented on this in her recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“I know that Aretha was adamant that [her life] be a film. If it’s not a film, it’s nothing. I’m just honored that she picked me to play her. I mean, who can say that? And again, I would have never done it without her wishes.”

While Genius: Aretha has been moved to a premiere date sometime this fall, Respect is expected to be released January 15, 2021.

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Photo credit: MGM/National Geographic