She Got Soul

Elephants are born quicker than that Nina Simone biopic starring Zoë Saldana – which was once meant to be a starring vehicle for Mary J. Blige – has gotten done.

But the film has gotten made.

Simply, aptly titled Nina and directed by Cynthia Mort (the writer of Jodie Foster’s The Brave One), the film will chronicle the relationship between the High Priestess of Soul and her assistant-cum-manager, Clifton Henderson, who will be portrayed by Selma’s David Oyelowo (who, props where props are due, stuck by and with the film since it was announced back in 2010).

Nina will be available in select theaters and On Demand on April 22.

Photo: EW.com.

Update: Check out the first trailer for Nina, which I did not realize was quite so marred in controversy over Saldana’s casting.

The actress reportedly (obviously) had to wear skin-darkening make-up and a prosthetic nose to play Simone, which the singer’s estate isn’t happy about, btw.

FYI, though, Saldana is on the record about not being about to worry about whether she is “black enough” for folks to approve of her yet-to-be-seen performance.