The Queen of Soul will finally have her story told on the big screen, and she personally picked out the person who will be playing her.

That's the story from Deadline, which reports that a new biopic about Aretha Franklin is in the works, and fellow big-voiced singer Jennifer Hudson is set to star. The news was announced during producer Clive Davis's annual pre-Grammys party on Saturday night, a star-studded event that's become almost as famous among industry folk as the music awards themselves.

According to Deadline, Davis -- who has worked alongside Franklin since the early days of her career -- introduced Hudson to sing at the party, and revealed that she would be playing Franklin, a casting that the legendary songstress approved herself. No additional details about the film were provided, though Deadline reports that MGM is the studio behind the biopic.

Although there's not a lot of information to go on at this point, Franklin's storied career is certainly ripe for exploration, from her early success with iconic singles like "Respect" and "A Natural Woman," to her civil rights activism, to her current role as living musical legend. And Hudson is a natural fit to play her (and apparently has been circling the part for over a decade), having carved out her own impressive legacy from "American Idol" also-ran to Oscar-winning actress ("Dreamgirls") and Grammy-winning singer.

Deadline reports that the film is currently searching for a screenwriter and director. With Hudson on board and Franklin's blessing, this flick should likely secure both soon.

[via: Deadline]