]a/k/a I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston Story
Release Date: 1/17/15 (Lifetime)
Genre: Drama/Biography
Rating: Not Available
Studio: Lifetime
Director: Angela Bassett
Cast: Yaya DaCosta (Whitney Houston), Arlen Escarpeta (Bobby Brown), Yolonda Ross (Robyn Crawford), Suzzanne Douglas (Cissy Houston), Mark Rolston (Clive Davis).
Details: On 12/3/14 Shadow and Act reported, Whitney chronicles the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model Whitney Houston and singer and songwriter Bobby Brown from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity to their courtship and tumultuous marriage. Houston’s vocal performances in the film are sung by Deborah Cox. The music featured in the film includes Houston’s hits “The Greatest Love of All,” “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” “I’m Every Woman” and “I Will Always Love You” as well as Brown’s “Every Little Step.” Source: Shadow and Act.
Trailer:
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On 7/16/14 The New York Daily News reported, the first images from I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston Story were released earlier this week, one of which shows DaCosta recreating Houston’s iconic cover for her 1987 album “Whitney.” The other shows Escarpeta hugging DaCosta in a pose familiar to how Brown and Houston were often photographed.
One thing DaCosta won’t be recreating is the “Greatest Love of All” singer’s vocals. E! News reports that R&B star Deborah Cox will supply the vocal tracks for the actress’ musical performances.
The biopic, which is being directed by Houston’s Waiting to Exhale co-star Angela Bassett, is currently filming and is expected to debut on Lifetime in 2015. Source: The New York Daily News, IMDB. Photo Source: The Wrap.
According to an article published by the Daily Mail Reporter, former America’s Next Top Model contestant, Yaya Dacosta Alafia, will play Whitney Houston in an upcoming Lifetime Original Movie biopic set for release in 2015. According to Shadow and Act, the TV movie, tentatively titled “Whitney Houston” will chronicle the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model and singer, songwriter Bobby Brown. It will be set in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s, during the early years of the couple’s relationship from the first time they met to their courtship and tumultuous marriage. Veteran actress Angela Bassett will make her directorial debut from a script penned by Shem Bitterman, who also wrote the 2013 Lifetime Original Movie, Betty & Coretta, in which Bassett starred in the title role of Coretta Scott King.
Alafia has some mighty big shoes to fill in playing the legendary diva, but the former reality TV star does have some acting experience as she previously had roles in All My Children, Ugly Betty, House, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Big Words, The Kids Are All Right, and TRON: Legacy.
While many fans are excited about the project, according to TMZ, Whitney’s family is ‘pissed’ about the made-for-television movie because they feel she deserves so much more. Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law, told the gossip site: “Whitney is certainly worthy of more than a television movie. If Whitney were here today, this would not be happening.” Whitney’s estate has reportedly already informed Lifetime of their displeasure and is said to be threatening a lawsuit if the network refuses to cancel production. The singer’s loved ones are planning their own big screen movie in the style of Michael Jackson’s This Is It, which they feel would be a more fitting tribute to the musical icon. Sources: Daily Mail Reporter, Shadow and Act, TMZ.
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