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The Best Early Christmas Gift! ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ Hits Theaters Today

Tianti Mhonaé
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Christmas came early this year! The new highly anticipated film ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody‘ is finally here. It will celebrate the phenomenal entertainer Whitney Houston. From a New Jersey choir girl to a music legend, audiences will be taken on an inspirational and emotional journey. BAFTA Award-winning actress Naomi Ackie stars as Whitney Houston. The film also stars Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, and Clarke Peters.

Whitney Houston released her self-titled album in 1985 and quickly established herself as one of the most iconic voices in pop. Her musical prowess earned her seven consecutive #1 singles, the only artist to achieve this feat. She has flourished in not only the music industry but the film industry as well, starring in popular movies such as The Body Guard, Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher’s Wife, and Sparkle. Whitney Houston will forever be incomparable, with over 200 million combined albums, singles, and videos sold worldwide during her career and countless awards and inductions.

In a December 12 interview on the daytime talk show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Naomi Ackie was asked what the most challenging part of playing Houston was. She openly revealed, “I think it was that knowing that so many people love Whitney and not wanting to let anybody down and trying to portray the best parts of her and the most complicated parts of her, so it took a long time.” She added, “It was about eight months of prep before we even started shooting, and I’m just so happy. It’s been about two years since I got the part.”

Naomi Ackie in TRISTAR pictures I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY

The film is directed by Kasi Lemmons, also known for 2019’s Harriet. It is written by Anthony McCarten, who wrote 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody. The producers are Anthony McCarten, Pat Houston, Clive Davis, Larry Mestel, Denis O’Sullivan, Jeff Kalligheri, Matt Jackson, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, Thad Luckinbill, Matt Salloway, and Christina Papagjika. I Wanna Dance with Somebody premieres in theaters today, December 23.

Photography Credit Sony Pictures

Don’t you wanna dance?