When there’s a call for authorized biopics the first name to be called has to be Anthony McCarten. The writer of Darkest Hour, The Theory of Everything, and Bohemian Rhapsody has helped lead multiple actors to Oscar wins. He very nearly did the same recently with the quite unofficial drama The Two Popes. Now McCarten will attempt to take us through the tragic ups and downs in the life of Whitney Houston.
The Whitney Houston estate, working with legendary Grammy-winning producer Clive Davis (who discovered Houston at the age of 19), have green lit a biopic on the late R&B star. Tentatively-titled I Wanna Dance with Somebody, the film will be written by McCarten and directed by Stella Meghie, who recently helmed romance The Photograph.
McCarten, who will also act as a producer, has promised a “no holds barred, musically rich screenplay that finally reveals the whole Whitney”. At least, that’s what Davis claims in a new statement given to Deadline. It’s hard to believe the Houston estate would be okay with such a thing, but we shall see. Authorized films based on real-life celebs tend to be sanitized to the point of nothingness, a complaint many saw with McCarten’s Bohemian Rhapsody script.
As for casting, there’s nothing yet on who will play the songstress, but consider McCarten’s track record of creating Oscar contenders. One has to believe actresses will be lining up to try and hit those notes few other than Whitney Houston could achieve.
