Report : Willow Smith To Play Whitney Houston

Published: Wednesday 29th Feb 2012 by David

Since her passing, numerous reports have done the rounds regarding a Whitney Houston biopic, the flick documenting her well publicized life.

With Rihanna, Jennifer Hudson and Vivica Fox all rumored to be contenders for the role as adult Whitney, this week saw reports of who was to play Whitney as a child emerge.

Reports which claim Willow Smith is to score the coveted role.

Details below…

Contact Music explains:

Rihanna and Jennifer Hudson are top on movie bosses’ list of names for the lead role, with Kill Bill actress Vivica Fox and American Idol singer Jordin Sparks also thought to be in with a chance.

As the movie is likely to span several decades of the singer’s life, Will Smith’s daughter Willow Smith could be cast as Whitney during her childhood. 

To be honest, I think the movie would fare better without a ‘famous girl’.

Because, as was the case with Selena, bio-pics are more effective when the leading roles are played by relatively unknown actors, allowing the story to be told without the hoo ha that comes when celebrities are asked to play their dead contemporaries.

We posit- that instead of Jennifer, Rihanna or Vivica playing Whitney, the role should go to someone along the lines of Sharon Leal to play adult Houston and a fresh face to play her as a child.

This way, her story can be just that – her story, as opposed to being an opportunity for industry big wigs to use the flick as a launching pad for their acts, one criticism ‘Lady Sings The Blues’ is belabored with to this day.

Your thoughts?

Comments 43

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  1. rihanna fan February 29, 2012

    lil overrated b****

  2. Eva February 29, 2012

    Willow, p*** off! I’ve tried to be nice but I’m done. Go spend Will and Jada’s money and leave us alone.

    If a Whitney movie is made, it has to be about Whitney. The people who play her have to be able to sing and be believable.

    Go whip your hair in the corner, damn!

  3. rihanna fan February 29, 2012

    brandy needs this

  4. AmbeRussell February 29, 2012

    to me, the person doesnt HAVE to look 100% like whitney bc any actor can fool us to make us believe they are that person they are playing. d. washington didnt look a lot like malcolm x. niether did beyonce when playing etta etc. it is about being able to take whitney n becoming her. jhud looks nothing like whitney nor sounds like her. rihanna has a heavy accent. v foxx breast are too big n doesnt put me in mind of whitney. they should find some1 unknown, or some1 who is not an a list. we wanna see it as whitney, not an actress acting like whitney.
    AmbeRussell on youtube
    http://www.youtube.com/user/AmbeRussell?feature=mhee

  5. ashgino@gmail.com February 29, 2012

    Kelly Rowland as Whitney Houston!

  6. Renee Lynn February 29, 2012

    I agree – I want to see someone we DON’T know play Whitney. I don’t want anyone famous and I want to see someone who actually resembles her [like In What’s love Got To do With Its] – Angela Basset looked A LOT like the young Tina. I’m OVER Hollywood.

  7. MISHKA February 29, 2012

    LEONA LEWIS

    or

    MELANIE FIONA

    ftw.

  8. Gabe February 29, 2012

    Anika Noni Rose should play her. She has the voice and the experience and her name wouldn’t take away from the story like Rihanna or Jennifer.

  9. Sleazy February 29, 2012

    Rihanna nO really? Rihanna? 🙁 this is just sad

  10. gio88 February 29, 2012

    rihanna_with 0 talent she should play whitney_i hope it-s a joke ahaha

  11. Chelle February 29, 2012

    I Just heard this funny lil wayne song at http://bit.ly/otCOIh its crazy ….y’all should hear it

  12. Jay Scorpio February 29, 2012

    CO-SIGNS WITH WHAT @GABE SAID… SO TRUE LUV ME SUM ANIKA!!!!! WILLOW IS A JOKE

  13. fab February 29, 2012

    BRANDY.COM for this role who agreed with me??????

  14. BAA February 29, 2012

    Where the hell did Rihanna name come from. She dont have NOTHING AND I MEAN NOTHING n common with Whitney! We still dont know if she can act and LORD knows she definitely cant sing a Whitney song. Lmao They need to X her ass out! And Jhud need to b X out also, im tired of seeing the same ol folks. The best choices are Kelly Rowland, if she can really put her all n it and give us a Oscar winning performance. The girl is a dead ringer n looks, as a heyday Whitney. Also Joy Bryant is a good choice or Sharon Leal. People dont wanna see no damn Rihanna, Vivica or Jhud. I bet, the producers are gonna mess around a f*** this movie up. SMH

  15. YOOSONDALOOSE February 29, 2012

    Wow. Not a great choice IMO.

  16. Bey Fan February 29, 2012

    Rihanna??? WHAT??? I dont know if Rihanna can act because I’ve only seen her in that Bring It On movie….where ,honestly, she did a bad job of portraying herself..(jk)

    And I try not to criticize Jhud acting because I will be deemed a hater simply because I like Bey, but to be honest Jhud isn’t good either. She did DAMN good in the “And I Am Telling You” scene , but that just proved that she really is far better singer than actress…

    Willow will probably be good as young Whit…. she’ll be in the movie all of 15 mins probably….

    I dont wanna see a Whitney movie for at least another 5 yrs. And the actress should be someone new , who has studied to be an actress. She doesn’t have to know how to sing. Just be a good actress, and have some resemblance.

  17. iateezy February 29, 2012

    riri, willow and withney kinda look like eachother doe… but i hope brandy gets the role cause i know shes been saying that she realy wants to play withney even when withney was alive and i think withney would have want that too!

  18. BAA February 29, 2012

    The only reason why Rihanna name is popping up, is because shes one of the it girls n music. JHud name is popping up because she sanged the tribute at The Grammys and also they always run to her if its anything concerning music. Lazy ass producers! Get yall arses out their and found a fresh face and someone that gonna put there all n it. Look at Angela Bassit. She played the hell out of Tina! Those ishes they naming cant do that. This movie gonna suck ass, if Riri or Jhud play her. Hell if Riri get the role. I already know theres gonna b a backlash and they will have to found someone else.

  19. Girrrl February 29, 2012

    I refuse to shade children so… I really don’t hope that a singer is not used in the Whitney movie. Whit deserves a real actor who went to acting school.

  20. Bey Fan February 29, 2012

    Ohhh Anika might be good…..

    Brandy….ehhh…I dont know. Shes a good actress, but I dunno.

    Kelly Rowland, yeah I love me some Kells….but Imma go with no

  21. tyra February 29, 2012

    NONE OF THIS PEOPLE LOOK ANYTHING LIKE WHITNEY Y DNT THEY JUST FIND AN UNKNOWN ACTRESS TO PLAY HER WHATS THE BIG DEAL RIHANNA HER ACCENT AND SKIN COLOUR FOR A START J HUD LOOKS NOTHING LIKE WHITNEY ITS JUST RIDICULES

  22. Onyx February 29, 2012

    Oh! God, i never understand the success of these Kids, as i say they should make a Film/Documentary with footage of Whitney and interviews of the people that know her not a Film cuz nobody could ever touth her, the case of Selena was different Jennifer Lopez make you believe she was Selina, their bodies were similar, she acts like Selina, the movie have a emotional touch, only J.Lo could play her, but i don’t think in anybody that could make justice to Whitney.

  23. TyTy February 29, 2012

    Adult Whitney should be ZOE SALDANA!! Young Whitney should be an unknown new acfress

  24. Noel February 29, 2012

    I mean I knew there would be a movie…but this is all so fast. I mean she JUST died…our society can be really messed up at times.

  25. @THE_MALEMADONNA February 29, 2012

    MONICA FOR WHITNEY HOUSTON!!!!!!!!!!

  26. THE REAL TYLER* February 29, 2012

    Only Kelly Rowland
    or
    Michelle williams

    will do for this role

  27. JJ February 29, 2012

    I think Kelly Rowland could possibly play the part also. I think she has the body frame.

  28. Onyx February 29, 2012

    @@THE_MALEMADONNA
    I like it, like it your nickname.

  29. K ANDB4EVER February 29, 2012

    kelly rowland

  30. RHI RHI IS QUEEN February 29, 2012

    SNATCHIN WIGS AT 12 I SEE…

  31. BitchPlease February 29, 2012

    Sam b**** why you deleted my comment..ugh because u know its true! Her rep says they are not working on a bio this soon!! STOP WITH THE LIES!!!!

  32. B-ROCKANMOSTAN February 29, 2012

    WHITNEY HOUSTON BIOPIC IS NOT BEING DONE CLIVE DAVIS DENIES THIS RUMOR!!!!!

  33. truetalk February 29, 2012

    My opionion for any one if the biopic of Whitney now/future is to be play my pick would be Michelle Williams former (DC) member or Halle Berry.. Also there will be no one to sound like Whitney so is should have only her voice and allow it to flow as such with who ever to star as Whitney would sing to a actual Whitney tracks. If there is to be a younger version to star, it should be Ke Ke Palmer.

  34. Hilly February 29, 2012

    Willow Smith? HELL NOOOOO! i agree with @Gabe Anika Noni Rose has the potential!

  35. JohnVidal (RIPWhitney-true great) February 29, 2012

    Please this can´t be happening!
    First of all I don´t want a biopic
    Second: I thought it was all rumors but is it for real that producers have Rihanna and Jennifer Hudson in mind??????? Please, Rihanna for obvious reasons (a pathetic artist can´t play Whitney) and Jennifer… NO I´m tired of the few people who try to compare her to Whitney… like PLease, she needs a different voice first and then a real career
    If the movie is made: it should be an unknown actress or a known one who actually is an actress, a big one, not one of these singers (although I can of see this Willow playing Whitney as a child for the first minutes of the movie or something)

  36. Bam Bam February 29, 2012

    I know that some people think that all black people look alike but damn Rihanna and Willow are nowhere near Whitney”s complexion I mean #DAMN

  37. Riff tiff February 29, 2012

    I think Michelle Williams from Destiny Child should play. It’s not a about the voice. I would rather hear Whitney’s actual voice such as Selena and Whats love Gots To do with it. It’s more about the acting.

  38. CH February 29, 2012

    Michelle Williams would be interesting BUT she needs to actually gain a few whit was only that boney in late 90s shes always been skinny though.

    Paula Patton needs to be in this she looks like Whit is an actual actress and can easily tan/lose weight. She has a look that can still portray a young whitney (20s)while also age and portray an older whitney (30s-40s). The subject of the movie alone will sell tickets you dont need a big name.

  39. Cazeliah March 1, 2012

    They should take their time with this project and the obvious choice to play a young Whitney should be Bobbi Kris. She resembles Whitney more than Willow. Maybe willow could be a young Aaliyah or more so Left Eye?

  40. scorpz March 1, 2012

    who told her she could act???

  41. Jasmine March 3, 2012

    I think a young Whitney should be someone with model looks. Whitney had the look of a model and a presence that would light up any room. The part should go to someone new with similar attributes but a person that will be skilled enough to carry the role. I don’t think singing is necessary since no one sounds like Whitney. When Tina’s movie came out Angela Bassett could not sing and looked nothing like Tina yet she was able to portray Tina’s presence (naive at first, scorned, and then a woman in control of her destiny) very well.

  42. BLAH March 3, 2012

    DID THIS B**** REALLY JUST SAY RIHFLOP THO? WTF GRAPE JUICE WHERE DO YALL GET YOUR DOLLAR STORE RESOURCES FROM KIDS WHO DF WOULD EVEN PUT RIHANNA IN THE SAME SENTENCE AS WHITNEY! WTFFFFFFFF! U B****** REALLY MUST BE HIGH OR DRUNK, THEY WOULD (NEVER) PUT RIHANNA IN A WHITNEY MOVIE AND THAT I KNOW FOR SURE I CAN PUT MY LIFE ON THAT 1 ROFL U FAILED B****** GOT JOKES SMH WHITNEY DOESN’T LIP SYNC SHE ACTUALLY HAD A (REAL VOICE) DUMBASSES DON’T EVER TRY WHITNEY LIKE THAT B**** SIT IT DOWN WHITNEY DIDNT EVEN LIKE NOR GIVE A FK ABOUT FLOPANNA SO HANG THAT S*** UP #THEEND, BUT I CAN SEE JHUD DOING NOT SO MUCH FOR JORDAN SPARKS SHE DESCENT BUT NOT A POWERHOUSE BUT WE WILL SEE.

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