Fantasia Lands New Movie Role

After a tumultuous few months, things seems to be looking up for Fantasia. For, the American Idol alum has landed a starring role in a new biopic.

Full story after the jump…

The Huffington Post reports:

Fantasia Barrino has had her problems over the past year, but unintentional weight gain is not one of them.

The “American Idol” winner has been seen with extra pounds of late, but she says it’s on purpose — she’s getting into character for a new movie, in which she’ll star as soul singer Mahalia Jackson.

“In fact, she’s just signed on to play the lead in Mahalia and has been told to gain 30 to 45 pounds for the role,” her rep confirmed.

The Euzhan Palcy directed movie begins shooting in April in Chicago and is slated for release at the year’s end. As relates to the story, the film is an adaptation of Jackson’s 1993 autobiography – ‘Got to Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel’.

Penned by James Evering, the big screen flick will chronicle the singer’s life; from her early years in poverty-lashed New Orleans to her rise to stardom. An early and avid advocate for the late, great Martin Luther King Jr, Jackson was also a major supporter of the Civil Rights Movement.