HBO Sets Premiere Date For ‘Bessie’ Biopic

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Queen Latifah was tapped to star as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in an upcoming HBO Films drama titled Bessie, which will focus on the musician’s transformation from a struggling young singer into one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s.

Along with a series of stills that show off the film’s ensemble cast, the network finally set a premiere date for the biopic, which is slated to debut in May of this year.

This isn’t the first time Queen Latifah has been called to play the “The Empress of the Blues,” but now the actress at 44 years of age feels better prepared to play the role. According to Deadline, the project was first presented to Queen Latifah 22 years ago when she was 22 years old.

“If anything I came to have a little more story,” she explained. “When the project came my way, I don’t think I had the life journey that went along with it. I got to live more of the blues.”

Smith’s life was tragically cut short after suffering injuries from a car crash and was 43 at the time of her passing.

Supporting actors to star in the film include Michael K. Williams as Bessie’s husband Jack, Khandi Alexander as her older sister Viola, Mike Epps and Tika Sumpter as her sidepieces, Richard and Lucille, and Oscar winner Mo’Nique as Bessie’s mentor and fellow blues legend Ma Rainey.

Watch the trailer below and catch Bessie when it premieres Saturday, May 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO!

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