British actress
Naomi Ackie (
"Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker") is in final negotiations to play iconic artist
Whitney Houston in Sony/TriStar's biopic
"I Wanna Dance With Somebody".
The film, which is being made with the blessing of the Houston estate, will be directed by
Stella Meghie (
"The Photograph") from a script by Oscar nominee
Anthony McCarten, who also penned the Queen biopic
"Bohemian Rhapsody".
Here's what Meghie had to say about the casting:
"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.".
Pat Houston will produce the movie on behalf of the Whitney Houston estate, along with music producer
Clive Davis.
Denis O'Sullivan and
Jeff Kalligher are also on board to produce.
Thanks to the backing of Houston's estate and Davis, the movie will use the singer's catalog, including her vocals.
The film is expected to be released on Thanksgiving 2022.
Ackie won a BAFTA for her role as Bonnie in the second season of Netflix's cult series
"The End Of The F***Ing World". She recently starred in the fourt installment of
Steve McQueen's anthology series
"Small Axe". She is also attached to star in the heist musical
"The Score" opposite
Will Poulter and
Johnny Flynn.
