The Oscar race has lost one of its potential contenders as another film has shifted its release date. The Aretha Franklin biopic Respect has been shuffled to an August 13, 2021 release date from its original January release date.
It’s the latest scheduling move for the film which stars Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson as the queen of soul. It was first due out in August 2020 and then pushed to October and then Christmas, before landing on an MLK Weekend 2021 wide release.
Deadline noted in their report that Respects distributor, MGM, believes
“to be Oscar-caliber and is looking to score a Best Picture nomination with the film, and is hoping to follow in the success of other recent summer-released Best Picture nominees such as BlacKkKlansman, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Help.”
Respect is directed by Liesl Tommy and also stars Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Marc Maron and Mary J. Blige.