Aretha Franklin still wants Halle Berry to play lead role in biopic

Even though Halle Berry has declined to play soul diva Aretha Franklin in a biopic about her life, the Queen of Soul has revealed that her top choice for the role still remains Berry.

The Academy Award winner turned down the offer after expressing reservations about having to sing.

Though Franklin told Berry that singing abilities are secondary - because she’ll provide the film’s soundtrack, the Oscar winner actress appeared to have given up the idea of joining the film.

“I told her, 'No one ever expected you to sing, Halle. I never thought of you as a singer,'” the Daily Express quoted Franklin as saying.

“A lot of movies come out where it’s the original artist and their songs are lip-sung to. That is how it would turn out if it’s Halle.

“If not, if for instance it’s Jennifer Hudson, she might sing one or two, but the rest would still be my original records. We’re definitely going to use the original records. I may re-record some things, too,” she added.