Whitney Houston Biopic Casts Naomi Ackie in the Lead Role
Sony Pictures is developing a musical biopic for Whitney Houston titled I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Naomi Ackie has been cast in the lead role.
I Wanna Dance With Somebody follows “the life and times of Houston, the iconic artist behind timeless hits like ‘I Will Always Love You’ and ‘How Will I Know.’ Houston, who died in 2012, made her acting debut in the 1992 romantic thriller ‘The Bodyguard.’”
The film is being directed by Stella Meghie (The Photograph) from a screenplay by Bohemian Rhapsody writer Anthony McCarten. Meghie said in a statement:
“We spent the better part of the last year in an exhaustive search for an actress who could embody Whitney Houston. 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.
Clive Davis, one of the film’s producers added:
“Naomi Ackie’s screen test was so powerful, it sent shivers up my spine. Although Whitney’s incomparable vocals are used for all the songs, Naomi’s extraordinary acting range enables her to masterfully capture Whitney’s unique charm, star power and, of course, her personal struggles. Naomi is the real deal and I can’t imagine a better choice for this iconic role.”
Pat Houston, who is producing on behalf of Whitney Houston’s estate, said:
“All Whitney fans have an appetite for perfection when it comes to Whitney and her Legacy. To transform someone into a matchless Icon is virtually impossible but with careful consideration Naomi Ackie was selected based on her quality performances and her deep commitment to emerging into the woman that we all loved. We look forward to taking this journey with her.”
Ackie has appeared in projects such as The End of the F***Ing World, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and Steve McQueen’s upcoming anthology series Small Axe. She will also star in a heist musical titled The Score with Will Poulter and Johnny Flynn.
Source: Variety