The estate of Whitney Houston has approved a biopic that will make Houston’s life the subject of another biopic.
According to Deadline, Stella Meghie to direct Whitney Houston biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Clive Davis is producing the project along with Anthony McCarten. The biopic came together after Davis approached screenwriter and producer McCarten with the idea. Davis, who discovered Houston in 1983 when she was a doe-eyed 19 year old, said:
“From all my personal and professional experience with Whitney from her late teenage years to her tragic premature death, I know the full Whitney Houston story has not yet been told. I am so glad that Anthony McCarten has committed to a no holds barred, musically rich screenplay. That will finally reveals the whole Whitney whose vocal genius deeply affected the world. (All) while she fiercely battled the demons that were to be her undoing”.
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McCartten is also penning the biopic after he self-financed a life-rights option.
“We are incredibly lucky to have the support and input of many of the key people who knew Whitney the best. And who were there at the time, in the making of this film,” McCartten said. “I am working closely with all of them, to authentically tell the extraordinary story of a peerless talent, taken from us too soon. Recreating for the big screen those unforgettable performances, those beloved songs, and that incredible journey, will be an enormous responsibility, undertaking, privilege and delight for myself and for our entire team.”
Other producers for the film include Pat Houston on behalf of the Houston Estate. Also Larry Mestel on behalf of Primary Wave Music, and Denis O’Sullivan.
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Houston said this statement on behalf of the Estate.
“The Estate of Whitney Houston is more than elated to be involved with a group of people that are as passionate about Whitney’s life story as we are. Whitney’s legacy deserves only the best that can be given. I stand with the hearts of these partners being the chosen ones to produce a film that’s uplifting and inspiring to all that loved her. And giving you a reason to continue to celebrate The Voice that we all fell in love with and will cherish forever!”
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Houston is the most awarded female music artist of all time, selling more than 200 million records worldwide.
The six songs Houston recorded for her 1992 role in The Bodyguard, propelled the film’s soundtrack to win multiple Grammy Awards. The album remains the best-selling soundtrack album in history and the film went on to earn $411 Million at the worldwide box office. She later did soundtracks for other motion pictures, including Waiting to Exhale and The Preacher’s Wife. The Preacher’s Wife went on to become the best-selling gospel album in history.
In her life, Houston won six Grammy Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards. She also won two Emmy Awards, among many others. She was inducted earlier this year into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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Houston was previously the subject of a documentary in 2018. As well as an unauthorized biopic that aired on Lifetime in 2015. She is a part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020. The film is currently without a distributor. However we don’t see that being true for much long.