The planned biopic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” will explore the incredible life and legacy of famous singer Whitney Houston. The film highlights the highs and lows of Houston’s life, from her early beginnings as a choir singer in Newark, NJ, to her ascent to being one of the most adored and celebrated music artists of all time. It was written by Anthony McCarten, who is best known for his work on “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The song “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” also highlights the significant roles that Houston’s family, husband, record producer, and best friend played in her life and career. Take a peek at the actors alongside the real individuals they are portraying in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” before the movie hits theatres on December 23.
Table Of Content
- 1 Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
- 2 Whitney Houston in Real Life
- 3 Stanley Tucci as Clive Davis in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
- 4 Clive Davis in Real Life
- 5 Tamara Tunie as Cissy Houston in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
- 6 Cissy Houston in Real Life
- 7 Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
- 8 Bobby Brown in Real Life
- 9 Nafessa Williams as Robyn Crawford in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
- 10 Robyn Crawford in Real Life
- 11 Clarke Peters as John Houston in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
- 12 John Houston in Real Life
- 13 “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” Trailer
Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
Whitney Houston in Real Life
According to The New York Times, Whitney Houston, a 1963 birthdate, began singing at a young age in her neighbourhood church choir and later backed up artists like Chaka Khan in the 1970s and early 1980s. After seeing Houston perform in a nightclub, record producer Clive Davis signed her to his label in 1983. He later assisted in the 1985 publication of her self-titled debut album.
Houston rose to fame in the pop industry as a result. Her career saw her become one of the best-selling musicians of all time and she received numerous honours, including 16 Billboard Music Awards and six Grammy Awards. She has received recognition for her acting in addition to her career in music, and she has credits in well-known movies including “The Bodyguard” and “The Preacher’s Wife.”
According to The LA Times, Houston unfortunately passed away in 2012 at the age of 48 from cocaine usage and atherosclerosis of the heart.
Stanley Tucci as Clive Davis in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
Clive Davis in Real Life
In the early 1980s, Clive Davis first encountered Houston in a bar in New York City. He soon signed her after seeing her perform. Davis served as the president of Columbia Records from 1967 to 1973 and of Arista Records from 1974 to 2000 before beginning his work with Houston. According to his official website, Davis is renowned for his collaborations with a number of great artists and bands, including Janice Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Sly and the Family Stone, and Billy Joel.
Tamara Tunie as Cissy Houston in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
Cissy Houston in Real Life
Cissy Houston is known for being a significant soul and gospel singer in the 1960s and 1970s, in addition to being the mother of one of the most well-known music vocalists of all time. She was well-known for providing background vocals for musicians like Roy Hamilton, Elvis Presley, and Aretha Franklin. Houston won two Grammy Awards in the 1990s for her solo gospel albums, “Face to Face” and “He Leadeth Me,” one in 1996 and the other in 1998.
Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
Bobby Brown in Real Life
According to The New York Post, Bobby Brown first met Houston in 1989 at the Soul Train Music Awards. Initially just acquaintances, the two quickly developed a romantic relationship, and Brown proposed in 1991. The two got married in 1992, and Bobbi Kristina Brown was born to them in 1993. The couple’s marriage was troubled by claims of substance usage, infidelity, and even physical violence as what had initially been a happy union turned sour. In 2007, they got divorced.
Brown is well-known for his solo work and his work with the band “New Edition” in addition to his relationship with Houston. His solo work includes well-known songs like “My Prerogative” and “Every Little Step.”
Nafessa Williams as Robyn Crawford in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
Robyn Crawford in Real Life
According to The Washington Post, Robyn Crawford met Houston in 1980 while serving as a camp counsellor in New Jersey. They quickly grew close, and Crawford subsequently acknowledged that their relationship was personal. “We were close. We were a couple. To one another, we meant everything. Not that we were in love. We simply were. We were one another. In her 2019 book, “A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston,” she penned the following: “We were one: That’s how it felt.”
Crawford claimed that although she and Houston broke off their sexual liaison as she began to establish herself as a celebrity, their friendship continued for a very long time. Before leaving Houston’s team in 2000, Crawford worked closely with her for the next 20+ years as her assistant and creative director.
Crawford donated some of the memorabilia she had amassed from her time with Houston to the Whitney Houston Academy of Performing Arts after Houston passed away in 2012, including some of her gold and platinum records.
Clarke Peters as John Houston in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
John Houston in Real Life
Whitney Houston’s father, John Houston, managed plays. Houston assisted in managing Cissy’s career before becoming famous, and she subsequently assisted in Whitney’s career. When his business sued Whitney in 2002 for $100 million for “helping to get a marijuana charge against her dismissed and for gaining her a new record contract,” according to The LA Times, their relationship hit a difficult patch. Their relationship was turbulent at times. Whitney later admitted to forgiving her father and loving him up to his passing in 2003 during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” Trailer
Being a binge-watcher himself, finding Content to write about comes naturally to Divesh. From Anime to Trending Netflix Series and Celebrity News, he covers every detail and always find the right sources for his research.
