Zoe Saldana Biopic Nina Releases First Trailer

The biopic movie Nina in which Zoe Saldana plays singer Nina Simone has finally released its first trailer and will hit theaters next month after years of controversy and production issues. The film tells the story of the late jazz singer's rise to fame as well as her relationship with her nurse-turned-manager, Clifton Henderson played by David Oyelowo.

News of Saldana's casting for the role was announced in 2012, and people immediately began criticizing the decision, questioning why producers would choose an actress of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent to represent Simone, who was of African American descent and whose darker skin played a major role in her success and impact on society. The film's poster only added fuel to the fire as it appears Saldana is wearing darker makeup and a prosthetic nose, which some Twitter users claimed equates to black face.

In the trailer, Saldana definitely provides strong evidence for why producers chose her for the role. From raw moments of emotion to scenes that made us laugh, the actress' talent in the trailer itself is quite clear. In fact, Oyelowo previously said he was incredibly surprised by her skill throughout the film. Saldana also suggested critics and fans alike see the movie before making any conclusions about the casting decision. She said “People are going to want to outcast you and put you someplace and it's like, you can have any opinion about it, and that is fine, as long as you understand that it's going to come second to how I feel about myself, I was already a part of this project and my priority was Nina, and the love that I feel for this woman, for her music and what she left us. Let's all give ourselves a chance to watch it and then make a decision”.

Nina will be released in theaters April 22.