Tate Taylor Director Chadwick Boseman James Brown Actor Nelsan Ellis Bobby Byrd Actor Dan Aykroyd Ben Bart Actor Viola Davis Susie Brown Actor Lennie James Joe Brown Actor Fred Melamed Syd Nathan Actor Craig Robinson Maceo Parker Actor Jill Scott DeeDee Brown Actor Octavia Spencer Aunt Honey Actor Josh Hopkins Ralph Bass Actor Brandon Smith Little Richard Actor Tika Sumpter Yvonne Fair Actor Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Vicki Anderson Actor Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter Pee Wee Ellis Actor Aloe Blacc Nafloyd Scott Actor Aakomon Jones Bobby Bennett Actor Jordan Scott Young James Actor Jamarion Scott Young James Actor Jez Butterworth Executive Producer John-Henry Butterworth Screenwriter Brian Grazer Producer Mick Jagger Producer Victoria Pearman Producer Erica Huggins Producer Peter Afterman Executive Producer Trish Hofmann Executive Producer John Butterworth Executive Producer John Norris Executive Producer Anna Culp Executive Producer Stephen Goldblatt Cinematographer Michael McCusker Film Editing Thomas Newman Original Music Mark Ricker Production Design Jesse Rosenthal Art Director Rena DeAngelo Set Decoration Sharen Davis Costume Design Kerry Barden Casting Paul Schnee Casting