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A Look at ‘The Color Purple’ Cast, Then and Now

With the movie musical adaptation of the beloved film set to release Christmas Day, we look back on the original in anticipation of the new.

Photo: Getty Images Warner Bros; YouTube/Warner Bros. Entertainment

On Christmas Day, the world will be reintroduced to the story of โ€œThe Color Purple.โ€

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker, the book was originally brought to the big screen in 1985. Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover and Margaret Avery, the Stephen Spielberg-directed seminal film told the heartbreaking, coming-of-age story of Celie Harris, a dark-skinned young Black girl subjected to years of abuse by the men in her life and forced away from her younger sister Nettie.

It isnโ€™t until she meets her new friends โ€” namely Sofia and Shug Avery โ€” that Celie learns what it means to truly be free and to live life on her own terms, away from pain, struggle, and oppression.

In anticipation of the new movie musical adaptation of โ€œThe Color Purple,โ€ letโ€™s take a look back at the iconic 1985 cast and who takes on their roles in the new film.

Adult Celie, Then: Whoopi Goldberg|| Now: Fantasia Barrino-Taylor

Whoopi Goldberg, left; Fantasia Barrino-Taylor. Photo: Getty Images Warner Brothers/Getty Images; Warner Bros.

Young Celie, then: Desreta Jackson|| Now: Phylicia Pearl Mpasi

Desreta Jackson, left; Phylicia Peral Mpasi. Photo: Getty Images Warner Brothers/Warner Bros.

Young Nettie, then: Akosua Busia|| Now: Halle Bailey

Akosua Busia, left; Hally Bailey. Photo: Getty Images Warner Brothers/Warner Bros.

Adult Nettie, then: Akosua Busia|| Now: Ciara

Akosua Busia, left; Ciara. Photo: Getty Images Warner Brothers; Gilbert Flores/Variety

Sofia, then: Oprah Winfrey|| Now: Danielle Brooks

Oprah Winfrey, left; Danielle Brooks. Photo: Getty Images Warner Brothers; Christopher Polk/Variety

Shug Avery, then: Margaret Avery|| Now: Taraji P. Henson

Margaret Avery, left; Taraji P. Henson. Photo: Getty Images Sunset Boulevard/Corbis; Gilbert Flores/Variety

Mister, then: Danny Glover|| Now: Colman Domingo

Danny Glover, left; Colman Domingo. Photo: Getty Images Warner Brothers; JC Olivera/GA/The Hollywood Reporter

Old Mister, then: Adolph Caesar|| Now: Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr as he participates in an onstage conversation at the Meditation Museum, Silver Spring, Maryland, October 27, 2017. Photo: Getty Images Howard Ruffner

Rev. Samuel Avery, then: Carl Anderson|| Now: David Alan Grier

David Alan Grier attends the world premiere of Amazon Prime Videoโ€™s โ€œCandy Cane Laneโ€ at Regency Village Theatre on November 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty Images Matt Winkelmeyer

Adult Harpo, then: Willard Pugh|| Now: Corey Hawkins

Corey Hawkins attends ELLEโ€™s Women In Hollywood Celebration at Nya Studios on December 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty Images Kevin Winter

Grady, Shugโ€™s Husband, then: Bennet Guillory|| Now: Jon Batiste

Jon Batiste attends the American Symphony New Orleans Premiere on December 07, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Getty Images Erika Goldring for Netflix

Papa Harris, then: Leonard Jackson|| Now: Deon Cole

Deon Cole at the premiere of โ€œThe Color Purpleโ€ held at The Academy Museum on December 6, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty Images Christopher Polk/Variety

Squeak, then: Rae Dawn Chong|| Now: H.E.R.

Gabriella Wilson aka H.E.R. attends the World Premiere of Warner Bros.โ€™ โ€œThe Color Purpleโ€ at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 06, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty Images Kayla Oaddams/WireImage

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