Naomi Ackie to play Whitney Houston in biopic

A biopic about Whitney Houston is coming to the big screen and the film has cast its star.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, British actress Naomi Ackie has been chosen to play the late singer Whitney Houston in the biopic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”.

“We spent the better part of the last year in an exhaustive search for an actress who could embody Whitney Houston,” the film’s director Stella Meghie told the publication. “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.”

The film has the backing of the Houston estate and her sister-in-law Pat Houston will serve as a producer.

Houston died in 2012 at the age of 48 which was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. She was found dead in her room at the Beverly Hilton hours before she was set to attend Davis’ annual Grammy party.

“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” is set to be released on Thanksgiving 2022.