Sean Marshall News broke today via Deadline that Kasi Lemmons has signed on to direct the Whiteney Houston biopic ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody‘. Lemmons is the second person to sit in the director’s seat for this project with Stella Meghie being the first. The film will star Naomi Aki as Whiteney Houston (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker). The film will be produced by Pat Houston, Larry Mestel, Denis O’Sullivan & Jeff Kalligheri. The script will be written by Anthony McCarten, who wrote the Queen biopic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
Lemmons had this to say:
“Early in my writing career I developed two projects for Whitney and I had the opportunity to meet her. She was a tremendous, incomparable artist and her story is as awe-inspiring as it is tragic. I feel privileged to be part of bringing her life story and music to the audience.”
Clive Davis added:
“Properly telling the honest, ‘no-holds-barred’ story of Whitney Houston is an exceptional responsibility. Kasi Lemmons not only brings a highly acclaimed, award-winning track record but possesses a clear understanding of Whitney as the matchless icon who triumphed musically while valiantly struggling with addiction.”
There is no release date set for the film & no additional cast has been announced.
