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. The story will be a celebration of Houston's life.Īs for the plot, 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. She was previously involved with the 2018 Whitney documentary, as she allowed Oscar-winning documentarian Kevin Macdonald access to the star's archive. The singer's sister-in-law and manager, Pat Houston, will be producing the film. Well-versed in biopic films, his credits include The Two Popes, Darkest Hour, Bohemian Rhapsody, and The Theory of Everything, which all either won Oscars or earned nods. Screenwriter Anthony McCarten is writing the script and producing.
Whitney Houston Lifetime movie in the works.
I feel privileged to be part of bringing her life story and music to the audience.” Whitney Houston, second from left, plays Savannah Jackson, a TV producer whos in love with a married man. “She was a tremendous, incomparable artist, and her story is as awe-inspiring as it is tragic. “Early in my writing career I developed two projects for Whitney, and I had the opportunity to meet her,” she told the outlet. She is also developing a movie based on the novel The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste. In addition to 2019's Harriet, Lemmons is also known for directing the 1997 southern gothic film Eve's Bayou, which was recently selected for the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. Meghie, who joined the project in April 2020, will stay on as executive producer. Rich Polk Getty Images Kasi Lemmons will replace Stella Meghie as director.ĭeadline reported that Harriet director Kasi Lemmons has stepped in to direct the film, after The Photograph director Stella Meghie stepped down due to creative differences.
He has also starred in the Oscar-nominated film Judas and the Black Messiah and the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga. Sanders is best known for playing the teenaged Chiron in the Oscar-winning film Moonlight. Whitney's sister-in-law Pat Houston said Ackie "was selected based on her quality performances and her deep commitment to emerging into the woman that we all loved." Ashton Sanders will play Bobby Brown.ĭeadline reported that the 25-year-old actor will portray R&B star and Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown. Producer Clive Davis said her screen test was "was so powerful, it sent shivers up my spine," according to THR. Others on the team also have high praise for Ackie. I was moved by her ability to capture the stage presence of a global icon while bringing humanity to her interior life." "Naomi Ackie impressed us at every stage of the process. "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.