See Naomi Ackie become Whitney Houston in 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' trailer
By EEW Magazine Entertainment Editors // Films
Naomi Ackie portrays Whitney Houston in the Sony biopic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” (EEW Magazine)
Sony is bringing the larger-than-life persona of the late, great Whitney Houston to the big screen just in time for Christmas.
The studio has released the first trailer for “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” a biographical drama about the iconic singer, in theaters Dec. 21.
Naomi Ackie is portraying the vocal powerhouse alongside a cast that includes Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown and Stanley Tucci as Clive Davis. Clarke Peters plays John Houston, Whitney’s father, and Tamara Tunie portrays Cissy Houston, Whitney’s mother.
Photos: Sony / Illustration: EEW Magazine
Sony describes “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” as a “no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted woman behind The Voice.”
"Fans can expect to see her life like we see are our own. Ups and downs, triumphs and disappointments, all of it mixing together to make up a life," Ackie, 30, told People.
The actress, who admitted that the intimidating task of playing Houston “felt like an impossible thing to achieve at times," is receiving high praise for her portrayal. "She completely inhabits the character of Whitney,” said Director Kasi Lemmons (Harriet). “She put in a year of rigorous preparation so that her transformation onscreen displays effortless virtuosity and is utterly believable.”
The film recounts the at times turbulent story of the beloved New Jersey church girl who rose to become one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time. “My dream? Sing what I want to sing, be how I want to be,” Ackie’s Houston says in the trailer. “Reach as big an audience as I can.”
In the teaser, Houston is told a common criticism is that her music “isn’t Black enough,” to which she replies: “Look, I don’t know how to sing Black, and I don’t know how to sing white either. I know how to sing.” The songstress known for massive hits like “Greatest Love of All,” “I Have Nothing,” and the tune that inspired the film’s title, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” never boxed herself in and didn’t allow anyone else to either.
Therefore, it is no surprise that the bold diva’s transcendent career took off with the debut of her self-titled album in 1985, which was released by Clive Davis and Arista Records. Houston continued her successful streak with two No. 1 follow-ups, “Whitney” (1987) and “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (1990).
Houston’s bright star grew even brighter with her acting debut alongside Kevin Costner in 1992’s romantic drama “The Bodyguard” which became a box office smash.
Despite her worldwide acclaim and success, the talented artist publicly struggled with drug addiction and sadly died February, 11, 2012, at age 48 after drowning in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub.
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” comes from a script by “Bohemian Rhapsody” screenwriter Anthony McCarten.
