Renée Zellweger in ‘JUDY’ (courtesy LD Entertainment/Roadside Attractions)
Check out the new trailer for upcoming biopic, JUDY, starring Renée Zellweger as the iconic Hollywood star, Judy Garland.
“Everyone’s had their troubles…and I’ve had mine.”
Based on the play End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter and directed by Rupert Goold (American Psycho), the film spotlights Garland’s struggles as she prepped for her sold-out 5-week run at the London nightclub, Talk of the Town, in 1968.
“As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through,” reads the official description.
“I had always wanted to make a film that explores great performance and its cost,” director Goold told Variety in May. “The most fertile ground for such exploration seemed to be at the end of a lifetime of performance. For over 40 years Judy Garland had laughed and loved and entertained no matter what life threw at her, and her public adored her for it. “
Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland (photo credit: David Hindley – courtesy LD Entertaiment/Roadside Attractions)
The film will feature many of Garland’s biggest hits including, naturally, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
This isn’t Zellweger’s first trip to the musical film rodeo, however.
The actress made a huge splash singing and dancing in the acclaimed film adaptation of the Kander & Ebb musical, Chicago, back in 2002, complete with an Oscar nomination for “Best Actress in a Leading Role.”
In addition to Zellweger, Judy stars Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story) as Garland’s fifth husband Mickey Deans, Rufus Sewell (The Man in the High Castle) as her third husband Sid Luft, and Michael Gambon (The King’s Speech, Little Women) as her manager, Bernard Delfont.
JUDY lands in theaters September 27.
Attitude Magazine reports that Zellweger made a surprise appearance on the main stage of the Pride In London festivities in Trafalgar Square this past weekend to share the new trailer.
“Can I just take a second for appreciation and acknowledgement of the courage and the suffering and the struggle of all of those over the last 50-plus years in the fight for what we all know are fundamental human rights,” she told the crowd, her face adorned with rainbow glitter.
“God bless them,” she added. “And God bless everyone of you here today! Can I get an ‘Amen’!”
