Ashton Sanders has joined the cast of I Wanna Dance With Somebody, the Whitney Houston biopic about the late musical superstar (via Deadline), and will be playing Bobby Brown. It has also been announced that Black Label Media has come on board to co-finance the film with Compelling Pictures and Primary Wave Music.
Kasi Lemmons is directing the film and it was already previously announced that Naomi Ackie will be playing Whitney Houston. The screenplay comes courtesy of Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten, and it’s said that the film “will take audiences on an emotional, energetic journey through Houston’s career and music.”
I Wanna Dance With Somebody should make for an interesting film if it’s handled correctly because Houston’s life was full of many triumphs but, tragically, many missteps. Houston is the most awarded female artist of all time and is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, selling more than 200 million records globally. Houston also crafted a fairly successful career as an actress, appearing in such hits as The Bodyguard, Waiting To Exhale, and The Preacher’s Wife. Despite all of her success, Houston’s personal life was ravaged by a drug addiction that ultimately led to her death in 2012 at the age of 48.
As for Ashton Sanders, he is best known for his breakout role in Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight. He has also appeared in Judas and the Black Messiah and is also set to reprise his role as RZA in season two of Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
What are YOUR thoughts on this casting? I Wanna Dance With Somebody is expected to hit screens on December 23, 2022.