Jennifer Hudson wows as Aretha Franklin in the first trailer for 'Respect'

Jennifer Hudson is here to take care of business. The Oscar winner seems to be lining up her second Academy Award nomination thanks to her transformation as Aretha Franklin in the upcoming biopic Respect. The first teaser trailer for the project dropped this weekend and gave viewers a chill-inducing return of the Queen of Soul.Released on June 28 during the BET Awards, the teaser trailer for Respect gives a sneak peek at Hudson’s work playing the late icon, whom Aretha handpicked to play her onscreen before her passing in 2018.  The new film chronicles Franklin’s life, including her early years spent singing in her father’s church up to her work as an activist and one of the most revered, respected singers in the world.[video_embed id='1463816']RELATED: Aretha Franklin passes at 76[/video_embed]Marlon Wayans stars opposite Hudson as Ted White, Franklin’s manager and first husband. Forest Whitaker and Audra McDonald play Aretha’s parents, C.L. and Barbara Franklin. Saycon Sengbloh and Hailey Kilgore play Aretha’s sisters, Erma and Carolyn Franklin and LeRoy McClain plays her brother Cecil Franklin.The new film also features Marc Maron as music producer Jerry Wexler, who helped Franklin with some of her biggest hits, including “Chain of Fools,” “Think” and “I Say A Little Prayer.” Tituss Burgess also stars as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland, who worked with Franklin’s father and with the singer to craft her 1972 Grammy-winning recording of “Amazing Grace.”Originally slated for release this August, Respect is one of the many highly -anticipated 2020 titles that's been pushed back. As of now, Respect is expected to have a limited theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on December 25 before opening with a wide release on January 15.Respect is directed by Liesl Tommy, who has previously helmed episodes of Insecure, Jessica Jones, Mrs. Fletcher, The Walking Dead, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings and an episode of Ava DuVernay’s Queen Sugar. Tommy also directed actor Danai Gurira’s original production Eclipsed, which opened in 2009 and in 2016 became the first play with an all-Black and female creative cast and team to premiere on Broadway.Tommy’s next project, following the release of Respect, is directing the film adaption of fellow South African Trevor Noah’s bestselling memoir Born A Crime. The film will reunite the director with Eclipsed actress and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o. Both Tommy and Nyong’o received Tony nominations for their work on Eclipsed and Tommy became the first Black woman to earn a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Play.[video_embed id='1984147']RELATED: Zendaya talks ‘heavy responsibility’ in Hollywood[/video_embed]