I Wanna Dance With Somebody Director Kasi Lemmons on Telling Whitney Houston’s Story

The new Whitney Houston biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, stars Naomi Ackie, and will attempt to capture the extraordinary spirit of the multi-award-winning powerhouse. With a screenplay by Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody), and the involvement of those close to Houston, including collaborator and manager, Clive Davis, who serves as a producer for the film, the movie is expected to be an empathetic glimpse into the singer’s intimate life, and her skyrocket to stardom. The woman tackling this feat is director Kasi Lemmons (Harriet), a filmmaker with experience both on and off-camera. Along with the support of Houston’s estate, and sister-in-law Pat Houston, Lemmons’ production is said to dig deeper into Houston’s private affairs with respect and reverence, and spans the length of the singer’s life from childhood to her tragic death. Alongside Ackie, I Wanna Dance With Somebody features Stanely Tucci as Davis, Tamara Tunie as Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston, Clarke Peters as her father John Houston