Naomi Ackie, best known for her roles in 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker', 'The End Of The F***ing World', and 'Doctor Who', has been cast as Whitney Houston in the upcoming biopic of the singer's life and career.
In a statement sent to media earlier today, Stella Meghie, the director of 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' explained the decision in casting Ackie. "We spent the better part of the last year in an exhaustive search for an actress who could embody Whitney Houston," Meghie said.
"Naomi Ackie impressed us at every stage of the process. I was moved by her ability to capture the stage presence of a global icon while bringing humanity to her interior life."
It's understood that Ackie will not be singing in the role, but rather that Houston's own vocals and singing will be used instead. Music mogul Clive Davis, who is also a producer on the movie, explained that "(although) Whitney's incomparable vocals are used for all the songs, Naomi's extraordinary acting range enables her to masterfully capture Whitney's unique charm, star power and, of course, her personal struggles."
Houston died in 2012, with the coroner's report listing the cause of her death as drowning, as well as the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use.
The movie will be written by Anthony McCarten, who previously wrote Queen / Freddie Mercury biopic 'Bohemian Rhapsody', and is slated for release in 2022.
