‘The Rise Of Skywalker’ Star Naomi Ackie Cast In Sony’s Whitney Houston Biopic
Christian Hubbard
Posted On December 15, 2020
One of the greatest performers of all time, Whitney Houston, is the next artist to receive the biopic treatment. After the project was announced back in August, many fans were left wondering who would portray the iconic singer. After a worldwide search for the right star, The Hollywood Reporter reports that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker star Naomi Ackie is in final negotiations to portray Houston in the film, titled I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
The film’s title stems from Houston’s 1987 single that won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 30th Grammy Awards. Per the initial report, the upcoming biopic will be directed by Stella Meghie. The Canadian filmmaker recently received critical acclaim for her latest film The Photograph starring Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield. Moreover, the film’s screenplay hails from Bohemian Rhapsody scribe Anthony McCarten. Sony is setting a Thanksgiving 2022 theatrical release.
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The picture has the support of the late singer’s estate as well as her producer Clive Davis. Additionally, Houston’s manager and sister-in-law Pat Houston is on-board to produce as well. In a statement, director Meghie expresses her excitement to collaborate with Ackie for the film.
“We spent the better part of the last year in an exhaustive search for an actress who could embody Whitney Houston,” said Meghie. “Naomi Ackie impressed us at every stage of the process. I was moved by her ability to capture the stage presence of a global icon while bringing humanity to her interior life.”
Whitney Houston is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. Her legacy touts a total of six Grammy Awards and 22 American Music Awards. Moreover, the “I Will Always Love You” singer appeared in a bevy of classic films like The Bodyguard, The Preacher’s Wife, and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Houston tragically passed in February 2012 at the age of 48.
In addition to her role as Jannah in Star Wars, Ackie shines in her role in Netflix’s The End of the F***ing World. Up next, the actress will star alongside Will Poulter in the upcoming thriller The Score.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to the upcoming biopic? Let us know in the comments below!
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