Whitney Houston is the latest musician getting the biopic treatment. A feature film based on the singer’s life is currently in development, with Stella Meghie (The Photograph, Everything, Everything) attached to direct. Anthony McCarten, who previously penned the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, is writing the screenplay.
The film is being made in cooperation with the Whitney Houston Estate, which is both good and bad news. Because of their involvement, Meghie and McCarten will undoubtely have access to Houston’s full music catalog.
Along with Houston’s estate, the singer’s longtime mentor, Clive Davis, serves as a producer on the project. In fact, Davis was the one who first approached McCarten about writing the screenplay.
The film’s current title is I Wanna Dance with Somebody, named after Houston’s 1987 No. 1 single. According to a press release, the producers promise:
“a joyous, emotional and heart-breaking celebration of the life and music of the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom."