Kris Bowers (Green Book, Dear White People, When They See Us) has been hired to compose the score for the upcoming biographical drama Respect. The film is directed by Liesl Tommy and stars Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin, as well as Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Marc Maron, Audra McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Saycon Sengbloh, Heather Headley, Tate Donovan and Mary J. Blige. The movie follows the rise of Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom. Tracey Scott Wilson wrote the screenplay based on a story by herself and Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise, Nashville). Scott Bernstein (Straight Outta Compton), record producer/songwriter/composer Harvey Mason Jr.  and Jonathan Glickman (Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon) are producing the MGM and BRON Studios production. Respect is set to be released in theaters nationwide on January 15, 2021 by United Artists. Visit the official movie website for updates.

Bowers also has Malcolm D. Lee’s Space Jam: A New Legacy coming up. The composer’s other recent projects include the FX on Hulu series Mrs. America, for which he is currently Emmy-nominated, as well as Justin Simiens’ Bad Hair, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and will premiere on October 23, 2020 on Hulu.