Hot Shot: Sparks and Crew Set for ‘Sparkle’

Published: Tuesday 27th Sep 2011 by Rashad

(Photo source)

Rehearsals are already underway for the remake of famed 1976 musical ‘Sparkle’.  The Whitney Houston-headed production is starring (from left to right) Carmen Ejogo, Jordin Sparks, and Jason Derulo’s ‘It Girl’ Tika Sumpter.

Said to be snapped on the trio’s first day of rehearsals, the ladies are prepping to join an illustrious cast of movers and shakers for the film including Cee Lo Green, Omari Hardwick, Mike Epps, Derek Luke, and of course, Miss Whitney Houston.

As reported yesterday, famed R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly has been tapped to create an original score for the movie’s accompanying soundtrack.

Shooting reportedly begins next month.

Your thoughts?

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  1. O leDoIt September 27, 2011

    Im so Excited about this project! Cant wait to see Whitney back on the Bug Screen and I know the soundtrack is going to be AMAZING!!

  2. O leDoIt September 27, 2011

    *Big Screen

  3. ASAP (As Sincere As Possible) September 27, 2011

    I really don’t feel comfortable with this.This was announced to be Aaliyah’s movie role and I COMPLETELY understand that they had to keep going with the production at some point and I do appreciate the fact that they waited so long to resume, but Jordin Sparks??She just doesn’t do it for me for a huge movie role…even though she is very sweet and talented.And R KELLY???He was Aaliyah’s mentor…It all sounds kind of…uncomfortable.I’m not throwing shade or hating, I just feel awkward with it all.Nothing more…

  4. JUDAS666 September 27, 2011

    CAN ANY OF THESE B****** ACT OUTSIDE OF D LISTED CANCELLED TV SERIES???? JORDIN’S MUSIC CAREER IS DONE. HER LAST 2 CD’S WERE A FLOP [DOT] COM. HER LAST CHANCE OR SHE’S DONE. TIME TO HIT THE BOOKS AND GO TO COLLEGE. AS FOR WHITNEY THE CRACKHEAD, WILL SHE BE ABLE TOP STAY STRAIGHT ON SET? SHE’S NEVER HAD A SINGLE FLICK WITH POSITIVE CRITICS REVIEWS OUTSIDE OF THE SOUNDTRACKS, SMH. I SMELL A “DREAM GIRLS 2.0” WITH A LOW BUDGET AND S***** ACTING.

  5. ashgino September 27, 2011

    i understand this project has been underway for yrs ever since Aaliyah was tapped, but in one weeks time, this project seems like it’s been slapped together….. and i do not like the casting!

  6. NICK September 27, 2011

    I LIKE IT! I AM EXCITED, AALIYAH IS DEAD PEOPLE, LET HER REST IN PEACE! LIFE GOES ON, WE ALL LOSE LOVED ONES (NOT SAYING IT IS EASY), BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE LIVING!!!! these a re beautiful black women doing their thing, lets be positive, this is y the white people get EVERYTHING now, we cant come together for NOTHING!!!!!

  7. scene September 27, 2011

    Whitney’s been working on this project for years, auntie whit just don’t talk her business till she’s ready to go that;s why it seems so fast but trust she talked aout this 1 time in her 2009 interview with instyle but never mentioned the name. Whit keeps things on the downlow.

    can’t wait to see this

  8. VA STAND UP!!! September 27, 2011

    Well, I was one of the ones who said that we should give this movie a chance s& at least see how Jordin’s acting is, but seeing the rest of the cast line up kinda makes me nervous. None of these people are the best actors….well Derek Luke is pretty good but everyone else is just….blah.

    I guess we will just have to wait & see but I don’t have the best feeling. I don’t think they should remake classics anyway. It’s usually never as good as the first. *shrugs*

    Tike sumpter is popping up everywhere! Geez! There is something seriously off about her face…

  9. KYLiL’KEiiO. September 28, 2011

    okay ppl.. let’s get everything out on the table.. 1st thing’s 1st, I’m one of Aaliyah’s most faithful fans & ‘Sparkle’ wasn’t who she was chosen to play.. she had the role of ‘Sister’.. & Whitney was apart of production from the gates, LET’S GET THAT STRAiGHT!.. & yes its been 10 years since the crash, but that’s still a delicate & sensitive matter for some ppl to grasp.. so lay off the harsh s***.. comprende?? & me personally, I’m glad they’re keeping the film in motion because im a fan of the movie ITSELF.. let’s just hope they give justice to their roles & leave us wanting more [fingers crossed] go ham Derek Luke & Omari Hardwick yall are big inspirations to me.. look out for my name Kylil’Keiio.

  10. MISHKA September 28, 2011

    Kudos to Diva Houston for giving some work to sisters and brothers.

    I love Aaliyah too but the show must go on.

  11. ASAP (As Sincere As Possible) September 28, 2011

    Of course the show must go on and I know that Aaliyah was not casted as ‘Sparkle’, but if they had casted decent actors, I wouldn’t mind.And also, hiring R Kelly, Aaliyah’s mentor, is just TOO much for me, sorry…

  12. JUDAS666 September 28, 2011

    K, THE ORIGINAL FLICK NEVER HAD GOOD REVIEWS, LET’S BE REAL. ONE OF JOEL SCHUMACHER’S FIRST FLICKS HE EVER MADE. MANY CRITICS HAVE SAID HE SHOULD DO IT OVER HIMSELF. WITH HIS EXPERIENCE NOW, SEVERAL OSCAR NOM’S, RAVE REVIEWS HE’S RECEIVED IN MUSICALS SINCE, HE’S THE BEST DIRECTOR TO REDO THIS. NO CONFIDENCE IN THE AKIL’S AT ALL. THEY ARE LOW BUDGET WRITER/DIRECTING TEAM AND IT SHOWS, SIGH… AT LEAST DREAM GIRLS HAD A GOOD CAST WITH OSCAR WINNER JAMIE FOX, EDDIE MURPHY, AND JHUD WHO ALSO WENT ON TO WIN AN OSCAR. NO ACTORS IN SPARKLE WITH GREAT ACTING CRED OUTSIDE OF DEREK LUKE. WHITNEY IS ONE OF THE EXEC PRODUCERS, THAT’S WHY THEY DID REWRITES FROM THE ORIGINAL AND SHE’S NOT A MAID.

    STILL… I have huge reservations what the critics will say and slam this to bits and pieces, lol. Just watch.

  13. nice_gurl September 28, 2011

    I don’t really think Jordin Sparks should have been in this movie…she just doesn’t have that ‘sparkle’. Tika is so pretty.

  14. TheMan4u September 28, 2011

    Whitney always had Aaliyah in mind to play Sparkle, she spoke about that shortly after Aaliyah died.

    and judas666, Whitney has never had a movie she starred in flop, not even the ones she produced so what are you talking about?

  15. Soularar September 28, 2011

    I don’t know who the f*** that girl is that’s playing sister but chile….. I’m so sick of beyonce but he’ll.. She should’ve been SISTER (whose role is prolly the most important) and kimberly Elise Neal should’ve been the sister that goes and becomes a nurse… Angela bassett should’ve played the mom.. And Jordin is prolly gonna be a good sparkle… The love interest for sister should’ve been the lead black dude in Great Debators… Derek Luke is good but he can’t sing… Smh

  16. Love letter September 28, 2011

    @ASAP

    Nobody’s thinking about Aaliyah. Sorry.

    R. Kelly will do an amazing job on the soundtrack. He’s a brilliant singer, songwriter and producer.

  17. JUDAS666 September 28, 2011

    @theman4u

    BRO… HAVE A FAT F****** SEAT. *SIT!!!* EVERYONE OF WHITNEY’S MOVIES HAVE CRITICALLY #FLOPPPED!!!!!! GO CHECK THE PAPERS. CINDERELLA DID OK FOR A TV MOVIE SO DOESNT COUNT AS A THEATRICAL MOVIE. BESIDES, IT WAS LAUDED FOR IT’S INTERRACIAL APPROACH NOT CRITICAL ACCLAIM. SMH.

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