Hollywood loves a good "what if" story. Sometimes, a casting rumor is so perfect it feels like a done deal before the cameras even roll. That’s exactly how people felt about Alicia Keys as Lena Horne. It just made sense. They had the same striking, regal bone structure and that shared New York soul. For years, it wasn’t a question of if it would happen, but when.
Then, the years started stacking up. Silence followed.
Honestly, the history of this project is a wild ride through the mid-2000s industry machine. It involves Oprah Winfrey, a Super Bowl scandal, and a legendary actress who wasn't afraid to say "no" to some of the biggest names in music.
The Casting Drama: From Janet to Alicia
Most people forget that Alicia Keys wasn't the first pick for this biopic. Originally, back in the early 2000s, Janet Jackson was the frontrunner. It was her dream role. She was attached to a project for ABC, and things were moving along.
Then came the 2004 Super Bowl.
After the "wardrobe malfunction" heard 'round the world, the story goes that Lena Horne herself—who was very much alive and very protective of her image—didn't want Janet playing her anymore. Lena was 90 years old and still called the shots. She reportedly asked Janet to leave the project.
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Enter Oprah Winfrey. Oprah took over as producer and, by 2007, she had found her new Lena: Alicia Keys. At the time, Oprah was quoted saying, "We’re going to start filming next year. And we’ve got Alicia."
Why Alicia Keys Was the Perfect Fit
It wasn't just about the looks, though the resemblance is honestly spooky. Lena Horne was a pioneer. She was the first Black performer to sign a long-term contract with a major Hollywood studio (MGM) back in 1942. But she refused to play the stereotypical "maid" roles that were the only options for Black women at the time.
Alicia Keys carries that same kind of "I'm doing it my way" energy.
- The New York Connection: Both are products of the city. Lena was from Brooklyn; Alicia is from Hell's Kitchen.
- The Activism: Lena was a civil rights firebrand. She sued restaurants that wouldn't serve her and refused to perform for segregated audiences. Alicia has spent her career doing the same type of work through her "Keep a Child Alive" foundation and various social justice movements.
- The Voice: While their vocal styles are different—Lena was jazz and "Stormy Weather" elegance, Alicia is soul and piano-driven R&B—they both have that "old soul" quality.
In a 2012 interview, Alicia mentioned that she was fascinated by Lena's vulnerability. She didn't just want to play the "star" version of Lena Horne; she wanted to show the woman who had to use the service entrance while being the most famous person in the room.
So, Why Did the Biopic Stall?
You’d think with Oprah producing and Alicia Keys starring, the movie would have been out by 2010. But the project entered what industry folks call "development hell."
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Scripts were written and rewritten. Lloyd Kramer was attached to write at one point. But timing is everything. Alicia’s music career was exploding with As I Am and The Element of Freedom. Biopics are notoriously hard to get right, and when you’re dealing with the estate of a legend like Horne, every detail has to be perfect.
Lena Horne passed away in 2010 at the age of 92. Without her there to push it forward, the specific Oprah-Alicia project seemed to lose its momentum. By the mid-2010s, the "Alicia Keys as Lena Horne" headlines basically vanished.
The 2021 Documentary Connection
Even though the movie didn't happen, Alicia never let go of Lena’s legacy. In 2021, she executive produced a documentary for PBS called "How It Feels To Be Free." It wasn't a biopic, but it was arguably more important. It tracked the lives of six trailblazing Black women: Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, and Pam Grier. Alicia appeared on camera talking about how much Lena’s refusal to "pass" or play small influenced her own career.
It felt like a full-circle moment. Even if she wasn't wearing the costumes and acting out the scenes, she was still the one telling Lena’s story to a new generation.
Is There Still a Chance?
Here’s the thing: people still want this.
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In recent years, Lena Horne’s granddaughter, Jenny Lumet (who wrote Rachel Getting Married and The Mummy), has been developing a new series about her grandmother’s life. When asked about casting, Lumet mentioned she’d still love to see Alicia Keys involved, though she also mentioned Zendaya as a possibility.
There’s a bit of a debate now about whether Alicia has "aged out" of the role if the story focuses on Lena's early years at the Cotton Club. Lena was 16 when she started and in her 20s during her MGM peak. Alicia is now in her 40s.
But Hollywood magic is real. And honestly? Alicia could probably play Lena in her later years—the activist, the Tony-winner, the woman who returned to Broadway in her 60s for "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music"—and it would be spectacular.
What You Can Do Now
If you’re still waiting for a definitive Lena Horne story, don't just wait for the movie. There’s already so much out there that explains why Alicia was so obsessed with her in the first place.
- Listen to "Stormy Weather": Not just the song, but the 1943 film of the same name. It’s a rare look at an all-Black cast from that era.
- Watch "How It Feels To Be Free": This is the PBS documentary Alicia Keys executive produced. It's the best way to see the "DNA" of the project that almost was.
- Read the Biography: Pick up Honeysuckle Rose: The Life and Music of Lena Horne by Gavin James. It covers the grit behind the glamour that Alicia wanted to bring to the screen.
While we might never get the specific Oprah-Alicia movie we were promised in 2007, the "Alicia Keys as Lena Horne" connection remains one of those perfect pairings that kept the legend of Lena Horne alive for a whole new demographic. It proved that Lena's story wasn't just old Hollywood history—it was a blueprint for the modern Black woman in entertainment.
Next Steps for the curious: Check out Alicia Keys’ 2021 performance at the Apollo Theater. You can see the Lena Horne influence in her stage presence and how she commands a room with just a piano and a story. It’s the closest thing we have to that biopic performance for now.