Date: 5th August 2020

Whitney Houston Biopic 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' Lands at Sony.


Sony has bought the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic, titled "I Wanna Dance With Somebody", The studio plans to release the movie in theaters around Thanksgiving in 2022.

Oscar-nominated scribe Anthony McCarten will pen and produce the project about the famed singer. McCarten self-financed a life rights option, writing the script on spec and lining up the rights and music before taking it out for auction.

The project has the backing of Houston’s estate as well as music producer Clive Davis. Pat Houston will produce the movie on behalf of the Houston Estate, along with Davis, Primary Wave Music’s Larry Mestel, Denis O’Sullivan and McCarten.

In 1992, she starred with Kevin Costner in the romantic drama “The Bodyguard,” which scored $411 million at the worldwide box office. “The Bodyguard’s” soundtrack won Grammys for album of the year and record of the year for the single “I Will Always Love You.” The soundtrack sold more than 45 million copies worldwide. Houston was the most awarded female musician of all time, selling more than 200 million records globally.

Houston broke out with her self-titled 1985 debut album, which was released by Davis and Arista Records. It featured the ballads “Greatest Love of All” and “Saving All My Love for You.” Her other hits included “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and “Million Dollar Bill.”

Source: Press Release