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.