The long-gestating project will finally see the light of day.

Nina, starring Zoe Saldana as the musical icon, will be released in North America this December. The film’s right were acquired by RLJ Entertainment, a company chaired by BET founder Robert L. Johnson.

The film has been delayed for several years. Mary J. Blige was originally attached to star in 2010, but was replaced by Saldana. The casting was criticized by those who felt that the actress, who is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, was too petite and light-skinned to play Simone. The film was written and directed by Cynthia Mort, who sued the production company for allegedly hijacking the film.

Nina follows Netflix’s What Happened, Miss Simone? documentary and the Nina Revisited… A Tribute to Nina Simone album. [via EW]