A literary landmark, Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Color Purple” returned this week in a new film version inspired by Broadway’s musicalized adaptation that starred Fantasia Barrino as the abused Celie.

Barrino, the first “American Idol” winner to star on Broadway, recreates her role alongside another “Purple” Broadway veteran Danielle Brooks. She reprises her role as the tragic Sophia, imprisoned and beaten by white racists.

Oprah Winfrey, who credits her extraordinary career entirely to “The Color Purple,” played Sophia in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film version and was among the producers of Broadway’s musicals.  She is the lead producer in this cinematic reprise.

Winfrey, 69, entrusted this elaborate new film to first time director Blitz Bazawule.

“The moment Blitz came,” Winfrey said, “with his brilliant idea of going inside Celie’s head and us being able to see and feel what she was thinking and feeling — we were blown away!”

“For me,” Bazawule said in a virtual press conference with Winfrey and the actors, “it was about understanding that ‘Color Purple’ is a sacred text. As Oprah puts it, it’s a deep source of healing for many.

“If we had nothing new to say it’s better for me to walk away. It was clear what I thought we could add. I went back to the oracle herself, Alice Walker’s text. First page, first word: ‘Dear God.’ Anyone who does that has an imagination contributing to this brilliant canon.

“We’re also drawing from this universe,” he added.  “For me it was oscillating between what was and what is. We had to find ways to present it to this generation.”

Having been through so many “Color Purple” chapters, Winfrey said,  “We say, ‘Look what God has done.’ That’s the refrain in the theme of ‘The Color Purple.’ Celie sings that in the final scene when her family returns: ‘Listen, I have lived a surrendered life’ — and that surrendered life began for me with ‘Color Purple.’

“When I got that role, when I got the call from Steven Spielberg, it was a defining moment. First, I never wanted anything as badly. I knew for me it was such a life-changing, life-altering moment. Because after that came ‘The Oprah Show.’

“The ‘Color Purple’ moment happening now as the world is everything it is, the healing and the joy that is going to come from screens on Christmas Day! People will leave feeling inspired, with a sense of forgiveness.

“It’s the ultimate of what art can do when inspired by a Divine hand. It actually does not get better than this.”