The first images of Jennifer Hudson as a young Aretha Franklin in Respect have been snapped.

The Daily Mail posted the images and video showcasing Hudson in costume as Franklin during 1966, and while there wasn’t much released, the images and video footage that are out are really impressive.

Franklin personally chose Hudson to portray her in the biopic of her life before her death on August 16, 2018 of pancreatic cancer.

The film is directed by Liesl Tommy, the first Black woman to be nominated for a Tony Award for Best Direction of A Play. Straight Outta Compton producer Scott Bernstein and Grammy Award-winning music producer Harvey Mason, Jr. will serve as the film’s producer.

The all-star cast also includes Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Mary J. Blige, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley, Tate Donovan and Skye Dakota Turner. They all join Hudson, who was handpicked by Franklin before her death.

Whitaker stars as Reverend C.L. Franklin. Known as the man with the “Million-Dollar Voice,” Franklin served as the pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin was also the father of the American singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin and her manager early on in her career.  Wayans stars as Ted White, Aretha’s first husband.  McDonald stars as Barbara Franklin, Aretha’s mother. Sengbloh stars as Erma Franklin, Aretha’s eldest sister. Kilgore stars as Carolyn Franklin, Aretha’s younger sister. Picked from a nationwide search, young Aretha Franklin will be played by Turner. Blige stars as famed recording artist Dinah Washington. Headley will play Clara Ward, the famed gospel artist and leader of The Famous Ward Sisters. Burgess  stars as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland, who was known as the “King of Gospel.” Maron stars as legendary Atlantic Records music producer Jerry Wexler.  Donovan stars as John Hammond, Columbia Records’ influential music producer.

READ MORE:

‘Respect’: Liesl Tommy To Direct Jennifer Hudson In Upcoming Aretha Franklin Biopic

Photo: Getty Images

From Harlem to Hollywood, get the Black entertainment news you need in your inbox daily.