WTF?! Zoe Saldana Replacing Mary J. Blige As Nina Simone In Biopic?

August 14th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

 

Source: last.fm

I’m pretty sure Nina Simone made that face as she turned over in her grave at this news.

Just putting it out on the table, no one was overly eager about Mary J. Blige playing the legendary Nina Simone in a movie about the singer/songwriter/ pianist/activist’s intriguing life in the first place, but finding out that Zoe Saldana could be taking over her part is just, well, like, WTF?

No official announcement has been made, but Shadow and Act has confirmed the news which was shared by one of their readers with two sources, including a crew member who is supposed to be working on the project. As far as those individual’s are concerned, the part is as good as Zoe’s.

There’s just so much to say about this cast change. On one hand, the directors are going with an actual actress, which 99 percent of the time is a good thing considering how quick the industry is to throw a role to a singer instead of someone who has actually honed the craft of acting. On the other hand, Nina Simone was a jazz singer, this may have been one of those instances where a person who can actually sing should get the part. Maybe. The bigger issue, though, that I’m sure is slapping everyone in the face is a lighter-skinned woman portraying a dark-skinned icon yet again.

People told us to let it slide when Harriet Tubman was turned into a mulatto in that fictitious Abraham Lincoln movie but this is a biopic. If you can’t even be true the woman’s skin tone what else are they going to take creative license with? And why is it never a priority to maintain that element of one’s character, and always a priority to make one lighter than they really are? I know, I know, I already know that complex answer.

I’ll give the team behind this project the benefit of the doubt and assume Viola Davis, Kimberly Elise, Anika Noni Rose, Adepero Oduye, and every other stellar brown-skinned actress who we haven’t seen in a main role in ages and who could take this part and make it amazing was busy the last time they had a brainstorming meeting. With no formal announcement coming out yet, let’s hope they go back to the drawing board and think this through. Right now this sounds like a fail.

Thoughts?

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  • newsjunkie

    I’ve seen conflicting reports about this casting. Some articles claim that she’s just joining the picture and other articles claim that she will be playing Nina Simone. It wouldn’t be the first time reports jumped the shark. I think if they decide to go forward with the biopic of Nina Simone, the most obvious choice would be Viola Davis. S/N: Zoe has always stated that she’s black. From her IMDB profile: “I’m like, “No! Let’s get it straight, yo soy una mujer negra.” (“I am a black woman.”)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mykia-Platt/665998060 Mykia Platt

    Omg, HEATHER HEADLEY would have been PERFECT for this part. She started off as an actress on Broadway and the sista can blow! Come on now! Zoe? Really?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mykia-Platt/665998060 Mykia Platt

      Heck, even Lauryn Hill could have had a comeback with this. She’s an actress/singer. Im sure she could use the money too

      • cleo

        lauryn hill would be amazing in this!

  • Soulsis

    ZOEY CAN SING!!! I still think there is a better fit for this role and I don’t think it is Zoey however I am a fan of her skillset.

  • Rayna

    Adepero Oduye or Viola Davis would’ve been perfect. Mary J. Blige should have never been considered for the film in the first place. I like Zoe but let’s be real. She’s a fair skinned dominicana. Why would she be considered for this role?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mykia-Platt/665998060 Mykia Platt

      Whats wrong with Mary tho?

  • Char

    Some actresses are turned down for roles because they are too dark. Most of the people that visit this site would agree that this is wrong, because the HUE OF YOUR SKINTONE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH with your QUALITIES as a performer/ actress etc. Why do you then think it is okay to state that Zoe Saldana is not fit for the role of Nina Simone because she is “too light”??? It is not okay, since Zoe is BLACK, like we are all BLACK and not light skin and dark skin.. This division has got to stop !! I think that what is stated about Zoe not being fit for the role because she is “too light” is just as RACIST, as stating that somebody is not fit for a role because they are “too dark”!! Come on! And do your research please.., a lighter skintone does not have to mean that you are of less “african” origin or of mixed heritage. West Africans (in diaspora) come in all hues… !

    • soulsis

      I think when it comes to fiction then you have a reasonable point but this is a biopic and part of Nina’s struggles were directly related to how she looked (her skin tone and her hair). India Aire would be a wonderful choice in terms of look and sound but acting- I don’t know.

  • IllyPhilly

    Craft is dead! Whoever can bring in a packed house, gets the deal.

  • CarlaKah

    EPIC FAIL! trained actress that can sing (someone who preferably has down shows on BROADWAY) should do it! And the complexion is important because we dark-skinned black women need one of our heroes to come alive on the screen. There are enough qualified women to do the job. Sorry Zoe but please let this one go….

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mykia-Platt/665998060 Mykia Platt

      Like Heather Headley

      • CarlaKah

        EXACTLY!!

  • Char

    This darkskin vs light skin thing has got to stop ! When are you even considered to be lightskin or darkskin? Come on people.. We’re BLACK !!! Zoe is a great actress,…are you telling me that even though she is black, she can’t play the role because she is a couple of hues lighter? Please.. That’s ridiculous!

    • CarlaKah

      She isn’t a singer

  • Olivie

    Thumbs down to Mary and Zoe. Audra McDonald would be a good pick. She shares some similarities with Nina Simone, she’s eloquent, and she sings beautifully.

    • CarlaKah

      Audra McDonald would be perfect!

  • A.J.

    I don’t have anything against her personally, but if they do go with Zoe Saldana, I don’t know if I will see the movie. It’s a shame, because we were waiting for something to be made about Nina Simone. She cannot sing, she looks nothing like her, and she has none of the attitudes or mannerisms that made up Nina Simone’s spark. I agree that India.Arie would be an excellent candidate, along with Viola Davis, Anika Noni Rose, or Regina King. A large part of Nina Simone’s struggle was due to her complexion, her hair, and her features. To have an actress that doesn’t embody any of that just makes no sense. Also, I feel like Zoe Saldana decides to be/play Black when it’s convenient for her, while identifying strongly as a Latina at other times (I know that one can be both). With the way she looks, she can’t deny her Black ancestry. I wonder if we’d be hearing more about her involvement in “Black” films if her skin were a little lighter, and her features different.

    • CarlaKah

      * India Arie would be perfect! She already played Nina Simone in American Dreams in 2003!* Viola Davis would be great! Actress + Broadway experience!* Anika Noni Rose amazing in Dreamsgirls! Actress + singer!* Regina King, amazing actress+ diverse. Don’t know how her singing is* Kimberly Elise, great actress , I don’t know how her singing is

  • psylocke_2001

    I’m disappointed with this choice, no shade to Zoe Saldana, but I agree with the other suggestions that were made in the article.

  • .

    I think Lauryn Hill should get the role of playing Nina Simone. She can sing and act. I loved her in Sister Act II.

  • blackmoses

    Though there are better choices than Saldana, (a) she is a star, and star power means everything in getting a film made and (b) God bless Mary J, but she’s no one’s actress. Saldana doesn’t need to be a singer if there’s enough real Simone tapes on file and/or they hire a good singing ghost.

  • Machelle Kwan

    Zoe Zaldana really doesn’t even impress me in the least bit as an actress. She was horrible in drum line and she can’t even lose that bougie accent of hers.

  • kizzy

    Who is to say they won’t darken Zoe’s skin for the role they made Jamie Foxx blind for Ray. Furthermore Zoe is an excellent actress she gives 110% in every movie i have seen her in. its a movie not real life ! did anyone complain when Halle Berry played Josephine Baker? (halle is darker than Josephine was) who cares about color

    • .

      Halle Berry did not play Josephine Baker. She played Dorthy Dandrige. Lynn Whitfield played Josephine Baker. Both women ( Halle and Lynn) resembled the women they were suppose to play and did a great job at it. If you don’t believe me, just google.

  • Machelle Kwan

    This is the craziest thing i’ve ever heard. She looks nothing like Nina Simone. Plus she’s latino. Wow. There’s a plenty of dark skinned Sisters that could play this lady properly.

  • Tina

    What’s next?
    Thandie Newton playing Harriet Tubman.

  • Aza

    Omg, India Arie would be PERFECT
    .. also Viola Davis would be amazing as well. But Zoe, not really feeling that. No offense to the actress she just doesn’t fit. I want to see the darker skin actresses getting to meaty roles.

  • DoinMe

    Zoe playing Nina Simone?? Naaawww. That won’t work at all. It’s not believable in the least bit.

  • dontdoit

    This is really interesting since I don’t remember one out cry from any outlet when Denzel Washington played Malcolm X in Spike Lee’s movie. Denzel looked nothing like Malcolm X in features or skin color. Would this be any different???

    • kizzy

      actually Denzel Washington did look similar to Malcolm X his facial expressions and hair coloring did the part justice or maybe he was just that great of an actor that color didn’t matter

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mykia-Platt/665998060 Mykia Platt

      I thought they looked pretty similar

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