Two Whitney Houston documentaries have been released within the last four years, and now a biopic of the iconic singer is in the works. “The Photograph’s” Stella Meghie is in negotiations to direct “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” Deadline reports. A collaboration between The Whitney Houston Estate, Primary Wave, and producer Clive Davis, the pic is being penned by Anthony McCarten (“The Two Popes,” “Bohemian Rhapsody”).
Named in honor of one of Houston’s biggest hits, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” will feature plenty of The Voice’s music. The six-time Grammy Award winner’s best known songs include “I Will Always Love You,” “Greatest Love of All,” “How Will I Know,” and “I’m Every Woman.”
Houston died in 2012.
Producers describe their vision of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” as 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. While being very frank about the price that super-stardom exacted, it will be both the rich and complex saga of the search for the perfect marriage between song and singer and audience, and at the same time the moving tale of a simple Jersey girl trying to find her way back home.”
Houston has sold more than 200 million records worldwide. The “Bodyguard” actress was the subject of 2018’s “Whitney” and 2017’s “Whitney: Can I Be Me.”
Meghie made her feature directorial debut with 2016’s “Jean of the Joneses” and has been keeping incredibly busy since. She’s helmed three additional features, 2017’s “Everything, Everything,” 2018’s “The Weekend,” and “The Photograph,” released earlier this year. Meghie has also directed eps of “Insecure,” “Grown-ish,” and “The First Wives Club.” She’s set to re-team with “Insecure” and “The Photograph” star Issa Rae for “American Princess.”
“If I’m honest — I hate talking about representation, but you’ll find it in my films,” Meghie has said. She explained, “I want my work added to the canon of films I go back to year after year, but I could do without the comparisons — wishing there were enough films by black filmmakers that audiences and critics don’t feel forced to compare my work to a shortlist of black films or romantic dramas that have gotten their rightful due in the past decades. I cannot represent everything to everyone — and neither do I want to,” she emphasized. “I represent women like me when I’m at my best and writing honestly.”
