MGM is moving forward with its Aretha Franklin biopic.  “Respect” is currently filming in Georgia and stars Jennifer Hudson as Auntie Re (she’s also doing her own singing).  Joining the cast will be Forest Whitaker in a surely sanitized version of the Reverend Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Aretha’s first husband, Mary J. Blige will play Dinah Washington, Tituss Burgess will star as Rev. Dr. James Cleveland, Audra McDonald will play Aretha’s mother (who left the family when Aretha was 6) and Heather Headley as singer Clara Ward.

Not to be outdone, the National Geographic Channel is making its own Aretha feature as part of their Genius series (last year, Antonio Banderas starred as Pablo Picasso).  Their Aretha will be Cynthia Erivo, best known for starring in The Color Purple on Broadway and who will be playing Harriet Tubman on the big screen next month.  Genius: Aretha is being done in conjunction with the Franklin estate.  Speaking of misleading statements, NatGeo says that this is “the first and only authorized scripted limited series on the Queen of Soul”.  Not to be confused with the first and only authorized scripted featured film – see above.