The spirit and soul of legendary entertainer Whitney Houston will grace its presence to fans once more in a new biopic that will feature her life and career. Naomi Ackle will play Houston and will feature supporting roles including Clive Davis, played by Stanley Tucci. The movie is expected to be released later this year and take viewers on a journey of the star’s anonymity to international stardom, leading her to become one of the greatest entertainers of all time.
The multi-award-winning sensation remains one of the greatest vocalists in her generation and has sold millions of records around the globe. Her endless array of hit singles and sold-out concerts remain one of the most unforgettable memories in the history of music.
In addition to her career triumphs, the biopic will also explore her struggles with fame, drug addiction, her on-again-off-again relationship with New Edition star Bobby Brown and her rumored affair with friend and assistant Robyn Crawford.
“We spent the better part of the last year in an exhaustive search for an actress who could embody Whitney Houston,” director Stella Meghie said, per The Hollywood Reporter. “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.”
The film is set to release December 21 and is directed by Kasi Lemmons and produced by Clive Davis, Anthony McCarten and Pat Houston under Compelling Pictures and Black Label Media. The film is distributed by Sony Pictures.
Producers told Deadline that they aim to make a “joyous, emotional and heart-breaking celebration of the life and music of the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom. While being very frank about the price that super-stardom exacted, it will be both the rich and complex saga of the search for the perfect marriage between song and singer and audience, and at the same time the moving tale of a simple Jersey girl trying to find her way back home.”
