Nina Simone Movie: Premiere Date Announced For Biopic Starring Zoe Saldana

Nearly four years after it was filmed, the Nina Simone biopic will finally make its theatrical debut in honor of the legendary artist's death anniversary. The film, starring Dominican-Puerto Rican actress Zoe Saldana, caused major controversy after Simone's family and daughter Simone Kelly were not in agreement with the leading role. However, the show must go on and the movie titled "Nina," directed by Cynthia Mort, will premiere in the spring, reports Flavorwire.

Starring Saldana as Simone, David Oyelowo as Clifton Henderson, and Ella Thomas as Lorraine Hansberry, "Nina" tells the story of Eunice Kathleen Waymon, the singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist known for her soulful voice. When asked about the controversial film, Saldana admitted that listening to Simone's music was heartbreaking. “I'll be able to listen to her and not feel so heartbroken once I either finish this movie and release it, knowing that we did the best we could, or this movie goes away. I pray that somebody tells her story and they do it amazingly well,” Saldana explained to Latina magazine when she nabbed its cover ending 2015.

Originally set to release in December 2015, "Nina" will premiere in theaters nationwide on April 22, just one day after Simone's 13th death anniversary. The movie will also be available via Video on Demand and Digital HD.