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Naomi Ackie is set to portray Whitney Houston in Sony’s upcoming musical biopic ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody.’
Stella
Meghie (“The Photograph”) is directing the film from a screenplay by
“Bohemian Rhapsody” writer Anthony McCarten. “I Wanna Dance With
Somebody” is slated to release at Thanksgiving of 2022.
“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,”
Meghie said.
“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.”
“Naomi
Ackie’s screen test was so powerful, it sent shivers up my spine,” said
Clive Davis, one of the film’s producers. “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, added,
“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
recently won a BAFTA for her role in Netflix’s “The End of the F***Ing
World.” She also appeared in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and
Steve McQueen’s anthology series “Small Axe.” She will star next in the
heist musical “The Score” with Will Poulter and Johnny Flynn.
Larry
Mestel will also produce behalf of Primary Wave Music, which is a
partner of the Whitney Houston estate. Denis O’Sullivan (“Bohemian
Rhapsody”) and Jeff Kalligheri (“Submergence”), who are financing and
co-producing via Compelling Pictures. Nicole Brown, Shary Shirazi, and
Brittany Morrissey will oversee the project for TriStar Pictures.
via Variety:
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