[WATCH] Jennifer Hudson Becomes Aretha Franklin in “Respect” Teaser

The 1967 hit song from the "Queen of Soul" serves as the background for the trailer. "Respect" has become one of Franklin's signature songs. She shifted Otis Redding's version of a desperate man pleading for respect. In her version, a strong woman demands it from her man. This track became a landmark for the feminist movement and the R&B era.

"Respect" also won Franklin two Grammy Awards in 1968 - "Best R&B Recording" and "Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance." The Library of Congress also honored her version in 2002. The Library added her song to the National Recording Registry.

During the BET Awards, Hudson also gave a live sample of her vocal prowess, further cementing her role as Franklin in the upcoming biopic. She performed "Young, Gifted & Black." The song was a Nina Simone original famously covered by Franklin for her 1972 album of the same name.

The virtual awards ceremony saw JHud in an elegant green gown. She started her performance playing a white piano. Hudson would later leave the piano and move to a standing microphone, belting the rest of the song with support from back-up singers clad in all-white outfits.

Handpicked for "Respect"

A silver screen treatment chronicling Aretha Franklin's life has been in works for a long time now. The Queen of Soul herself has been personally involved with its development until she passed away in August 2018.

While Franklin has previously kept her choice of actress to play her, it was revealed in 2018 that she actually handpicked Jennifer Hudson. During Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party, the record producer introduced Jennifer Hudson and Aretha Franklin to each other. Davis also made the announcement while presenting the "Dreamgirls" star at an event in honor of Jay-Z. In the honoring gala, the singer performed Franklin's hits "Think," "Rock Steady," and "Respect."

Clive Davis first recruited Aretha Franklin to his Arista Records back in 1980. Arista would also sign Hudson shortly after the end of her "American Idol" run in 2004, where she finished seventh. According to Rolling Stone, the entertainment mogul has called Hudson as the "next generation's Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston."

In January 2019, Liesl Tommy was attached to the project as its director. Later in the year, the rest of the cast has been announced. Acclaimed playwright Tracey Scott Wilson has penned the screenplay for the movie.

That the upcoming biopic is scheduled to be released in December this year. Reports also said that the movie would cover Franklin's six decades in music. It will include her first recordings as a gospel singer, managed by her father. She also went in her youth with his father's tours, performing with his "gospel caravan."

Watch the official teaser trailer for "Respect" below: