ARETHA FRANKLIN and TERRENCE HOWARD

Franklin is still not set on who will play her in the movie, but is convinced she's found her Smokey.

The R.E.S.P.E.C.T. singer says, "I was talking to him (Howard) about playing Smokey (and) he said he would be delighted with a capital D.

"And Smokey said that he would absolutely love for him to play him."

Source: WENN