Naomi Ackie (left); Whitney Houston (right).Photo: getty images (2)
Filmmakers for theWhitney HoustonbiopicI Wanna Dance with Somebodyhave found their star.
Naomi Ackie has been tasked with taking on the role of the music legend in the upcoming film, which is currently slated for a Thanksgiving 2022 release, according toDeadlineandThe Hollywood Reporter, who was first to report that she was in final negotiations for the part.
Naomi Ackie.Anthony Harvey/BAFTA/Shutterstock
“All Whitney fans have an appetite for perfection when it comes to Whitney and her legacy,” Houston’s sister-in-law and former manager Pat Houston, who will produce the film on behalf of the Houston Estate, added in her own statement.
“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,” she said.
Producer Clive Davis will also be producing, along with Larry Mestel, Denis O’Sullivan, Jeff Kalligheri and McCarten.
“Naomi Ackie’s screen test was so powerful, it sent shivers up my spine,” Davis said. “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.”
Ackie’s past film credits includeStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,The Corrupted,YardieandLady Macbeth.
I Wanna Dance with Somebodywill be “very frank about the price that super-stardom exacted” while also being “the moving tale of a simple Jersey girl trying to find her way back home,” according to a previous a press release for the film.
Whitney Houston.Paul Natkin/Getty Images
A previous Houston biopic,Whitney,was released on Lifetime in 2015 withAmerica’s Next Top Modelalumna Yaya DaCosta playing the singer.
Houston died on Feb. 11, 2012 at the age of 48 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel due to an accidental drowning.
source: people.com
