Just a few weeks after the release of Aretha Franklin’s biopic “Respect,” there’s news that another music icon is getting her own feature film. Harriet and Yves Bayou film director Cassie Lemons directs Whitney Houston’s Sony and Tristar Pictures biopic I Want To Dance With Someone, with “Master of None: Moments in Love” gearing up Naomi Aki to star as the artist departed. Deadline broke the news.
She was Stella Meiji (“The Picture”) It was pre-attached to lead the filmand remains as executive producer. Pat Houston produces on behalf of the Houston Estate.
Named one of Houston’s most successful songs, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” will take an “emotional and lively journey” through her career. It is scheduled to be released on Thanksgiving Day in 2022.
“Early in my writing career, I developed two projects for Whitney and had the opportunity to meet her,” Lemons recalls. “She was an incomparably wonderful artist and her story is as amazing as it is tragic. I feel proud to be a part of bringing her life story and music to the public.”
Ackie landed the title role after “an enthusiastic audition process that saw a number of actresses compete” to play Houston, Deadline reports. “Getting ready to play Whitney Houston was an amazing experience,” Aki said. “I learned more about her and myself than I could ever have imagined. I am so excited to be part of this movie set and honor her legacy! With Kasi on board, I know we can create something really cool.”
A six-time Grammy Award winner, Houston’s most popular songs include “I Will Always Love You,” “Greatest Love of All,” “How Will I Know,” and “I’m Every Woman.” She has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, and has acted in projects such as “The Bodyguard” and “Waiting to Exhale”. She passed away in 2012.
After his death, Houston became the first black recording artist to win three RIAA Diamond albums. She was also the subject of two documentaries, 2018’s ‘Whitney’ and 2017’s ‘Whitney: Can I Be Me’.
“Talk to Me”, “Black Cradle” and “Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” episodes are among Lemmons’ other directorial credits. Includes her upcoming list Directing in “Women of the Movement”, An ABC anthology series whose first season will focus on Mamie Till-Mobley, whose son Emmett Till was murdered by two white men in Jim Crow South, and is developing a feature film Shadow King And the series “Ringing Hooray.” The former is about Ethiopian women conscripts in World War II, while the latter is a 1920s science fiction movie set in the South starring Kiki Lane.
Ackie’s credits include “Small Ax: Education,” “The End of the F***ing World,” and “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.” She served as executive producer on “Moments in Love,” the latest season of “Master of None,” which focused on Lena Waithe’s character, Denise, and her wife Alicia, performed by Ackie.
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