Whitney Houston returns to the big screen
AP photo
How about some positive Whitney Houston news?
After grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons, like her alleged hissy fit on a Delta flight the other day, Team Whitney has sent a missive touting her role in an upcoming film.
She will star along with American Idol alum Jordin Sparks, actors Derek Luke, Mike Epps, recording artist Cee-Lo Green and a slew of other entertainers in “Sparkle.”
The project, filming in Detroit, is directed by Salim Akil (”Jumping The Broom”) from a screenplay written by Mara Brock Akil (“The Game”, “Girlfriends). The movie is a remake of a 1976 film by the same name, about a talented young lady (Sparkle, who will be played by Sparks) who struggles to achieve her dream of becoming a performing artist.
Houston is serving as executive producer along with Gaylyn Fraiche (”Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2″), and Howard Rosenman (”The Family Man”). R. Kelly is doing the soundtrack.
“‘Sparkle’ is a movie I have wanted to remake for a long time and I am so glad to finally see my wish come true and to be part of this stellar team of actors and producers,” Whit said in a statement.
-Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com
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55 comments Add your comment
prettygurl1908
October 19th, 2011
12:55 pm
Wow! I would not bet my money on her for anything in the world!
Mr. Ed
October 19th, 2011
12:55 pm
I wish Whitney the best, but I am prepared for the worst, especially given her track record the last few years. Who knows if she will ever be “golden” again.
joe
October 19th, 2011
12:58 pm
“Sparkle” as in the shine from a rock of crack? Crack is whack!!
Kay
October 19th, 2011
12:58 pm
Sparkle is a classic and this train wreck is going to mess it up.
Stephen
October 19th, 2011
1:03 pm
This will not end well.
Tess
October 19th, 2011
1:03 pm
That is great news for Whitneys!!!.Good luck with your new movie. Everyone deserves another chance. So, thumbs up to her and her return.
Atl_Finest
October 19th, 2011
1:05 pm
Wow…….U all are really late with this story. This was the topic on many sites over a month ago. I don’t see this movie being a success. The music for the original Sparkle sountrack was great. Todays producers can’t find Jennifer Hudson some decent music to record on 2 cds but they are suppose to fill up an entire movie. Good luck Jordan. I would not be surprised is this movie get shelved just like Ciara’s “Mama I wanna sing” that is like 4yrs old but never been released.
JAMES
October 19th, 2011
1:13 pm
KAY….I would rather be a RICH train wreck….than a POOR sociopath…..
dre
October 19th, 2011
1:14 pm
Ms. Houston, I have always loved you. Take your time and enjoy filming the movie. I am sure it will be a good one. Can’t wait to see it. God bless you.
NikkiFree
October 19th, 2011
1:20 pm
Well, I won’t be buying the soundtrack because of the person is is doing it. The movie seems interesting though. I will keep my eyes open for it.
RJ's Wife
October 19th, 2011
1:24 pm
GOD BLESS WHITNEY HOUSTON!
sean
October 19th, 2011
1:29 pm
Good for her. These crackers always get a second chance.
TK
October 19th, 2011
1:30 pm
Some things should really just be left alone.
gudluck
October 19th, 2011
1:44 pm
I wish her the best; however, i know I wont be seeing this. First, Whitney is not a “young” woman, and the character “Sparkle” is a young, woman. Second, the writer for “Girlfirends” and The Game” is also a part of this movie, which means its already a flop.
G
October 19th, 2011
1:45 pm
I truly wish Whitney the best! All of you negative people should look in the mirror. Ask yourself the question, if I ever fell sick to anything (drugs, mental, or even physical illness) would I want someone to help and encourage or just step on and over me. WHAT IF THIS WAS YOU!!!!! WOULD YOU THEN KNOW WHAT MERCY IS?
John
October 19th, 2011
1:58 pm
bunch of dumb folks here. This story is old. She’s been on the set in Detroit for 2 weeks now with no problems. She was in the studio yesterday with Harvey Mason Jr producer who tweeted about her all love. All of her history with movies have been hits. All of her producer credits with movies have been hits.
Say what you want about R kelly he makes great music. Whitney had this movie from 2001 when Aaliyah was suppose to star but then she died so the movie was shelved that is why she said she always wanted to make it.
Whitney is executive producing it and for goodness sake, she is not playing Sparkle. Read the friggin article, it says she is playing Effie the mom.
keira
October 19th, 2011
1:59 pm
Love Whitney and can’t wait to see this move. Love Jordin too, this should be good.
DGAD
October 19th, 2011
2:01 pm
Yeah, the star power in this movie is blinding!!!
MGD
October 19th, 2011
2:05 pm
Whitney as an executive producer? Hmmmmmm…Sounds like a disaster to me.
SOUTHERN ATL
October 19th, 2011
2:09 pm
Good for Whitney!! I hope that it will be a success!!!
colin
October 19th, 2011
2:12 pm
she produced The Princess Diaries and Cheetah Girls and Cinderella and none were disasters so I’m sure she knows what she is doing.
Hopefully this movie will be just as good as the other movies she produced.
Tyrone Biggums
October 19th, 2011
2:14 pm
Crack sales have skyrocketed in Detroit since filming began.
ATLPeach
October 19th, 2011
2:14 pm
Hmmm….I’ll see. I loved the original Sparkle. I can’t imagine Jordin Sparks with the lead role. We’ll see what happens. Maybe she’ll be another breakout star like Jen Hudson. As for Whitney, I never cared for her acting so she won’t bring much to the movie. R. Kelley is a pedophile. Knowing he’s doing the soundtrack is enough to keep me away. I do despise this man and cannot understand peoples fascination with him.
CB
October 19th, 2011
2:16 pm
all of the movies Whitney produced have been hits! I didn’t too much care for the original Sparkel but looking forward to see this one. I too am not to crazy about R. Kelly producing the soundtrack but we’ll just have to wait and see. But Whitney will be great!
FILM
October 19th, 2011
2:23 pm
Whitney’s been a pretty decent actress and all of her soundtrack music have slayed. I’ll bite and give it a chance. R Kelly is the real deal, don’t care bout his personal life. His music is the bizness. Not sure bout Jordin but we’ll see.
I hope it’s good.
tman
October 19th, 2011
2:26 pm
@gudluck,
Jordan Sparks is playing the role of Sparkle not Whitney. Read baby Read.
Nutmeg
October 19th, 2011
2:31 pm
prettygurl1908–Nobody’s betting on her, which is why she’s having to finance her own movie (producer).
Dakota
October 19th, 2011
2:32 pm
gudluck…u need to read carefully before u write..yes Sparkle is played by a young women which Jordan Sparks will play the role..Whitney is playing as an executive producer.. Please read before you act out….dumb dumb
tom
October 19th, 2011
2:42 pm
Hope this works out for her. She needs something positive to happen in her life.
@blackiedabooty
October 19th, 2011
2:49 pm
lol at all the neg. comments…. look at Ms. Houston’s track record, anything she does will slay no matter how you feel about her…………….. and when she does slay don’t try and jump on the bandwagon! follow me on twitter @blackiedabooty.
Justin
October 19th, 2011
2:53 pm
All you ignorant @ss’s don’t have a clue! Nothing but negativity. I guess that’s what the buzz is for. It’s never anything positive from the miserable bloggers who spew their venom here on a daily basis.
Good Luck Whitney!
weena
October 19th, 2011
2:55 pm
I think the movie should be called “Dookie Bubbles”. Jennifer, nice to see you returning to your roots and writing about black people. Good thing, a hack gossip columnist covering the white folk scene in the ATL could go broke in a hurry.
DEE
October 19th, 2011
3:39 pm
Good luck Whitney! I loved the original movie Sparkle and I hope this one is even better! Will go and see it.
jesse
October 19th, 2011
4:13 pm
We love you……..WHITNEY…….Yes we love you! Good Luck Whitney!
NeNe
October 19th, 2011
4:29 pm
I don can’t BELIEVE they giving my gurl a movie and not me!
Kenny
October 19th, 2011
4:58 pm
Wonderful! Whitney is a gifted woman. So glad to see her lend her voice to the soundtrack too. Her last album I Look To you was beautiful This woman sings from her heart. She knows who she is and has her faith in God. God will bless her. All you negative people, please get a life. Praise her for having the strength to endure and rise like a Phoenix.
Devinn
October 19th, 2011
6:04 pm
Some idiot cannot read! Hello Jordin Sparks is playing the “young” woman Sparkle, not Whitney! Whitney will play their mother!
Charlotte
October 19th, 2011
6:09 pm
Thanks for the info Jenn. I read your blog often but I never post. And thanks John for your post, I loved the original Sparkle and I believe this one will be just as good. It’s not often I see any worthwhile posts from the readers. Most are extremely ignorant when it comes composing a post. But the saddest thing is that people of today are just mean. That’s just the way of the world now. Negative comments about another does not defined that person, but it does define the content of your character. Keep blogging Jenn and I’ll keep reading.
Chile
October 19th, 2011
6:33 pm
I really don’t know why they hate on Whitney so much. She’s diva origin nal. Let’s not forget she is the original and only voice. Let’s get that straight chile
catalyst
October 19th, 2011
6:36 pm
Nutmeg
Do you know what a producer does? She is assisting in getting the financing and also giving input to the script. Sony/tristar is financing it so it already has a studio and distributorship which is something that alot of black movies can’t get which is why they go straight to dvd.
say what ya want about ms. Houston but she puts out quality product and it goes to the masses something that few black entertainers can do and yes, she is playing Effie, the mom
Andy
October 19th, 2011
7:29 pm
i have been hoping for the best for whitney, but she has never come through. Her voice still isn’t “Whitney” so idk. maybe she will surprise us all
Jennifer Brett
October 19th, 2011
9:14 pm
Thank you Charlotte! Will do!
Jennifer
Justineisu
October 19th, 2011
10:35 pm
Why do people hate so much. There is so much negativity. In every blog there are people who just hate. As a Christian I believe in redemption and forgiveness. Whitney Houston has really never done anything to hurt anyone but hself. She’s never been accused of stealing or cheating anyone. She is a human being who lost her way and we all got to watch as she started her downward spiral. And now we have an opportunity to watch her come back. Stop hating. I bet some of these evil people would hate on Jesus if they could.
jo fleming
October 20th, 2011
2:19 am
We all fall down but it’s a matter of how you get back up. You go girl!!!
delighted
October 20th, 2011
3:20 am
This is great for Whitney Houston! I am very proud of her! I really like Jordin Sparks, and I know that she will do a great job. However, I thought I remember hearing a couple of years ago that this movie was being made and that Raven-Symone was going to have the lead role. I thought the re-make of the movie was being worked on back then. Does anyone else remember reading or hearing this a couple of years ago? I’m a little confused about this, however I love the celebrities who will be working with the re-make of this movie. This should be great!!!
Jennifer
October 20th, 2011
7:56 am
There has been several girls attached to Sparkle or rumored to be her since Aaliyah died from Ashanti to Rayven Simone. Jordin auditiioned and got the part and I think she’s the better of the 3.
Whitney should be good it this movie. So happy to see her getting back to movies and I will be there on openning night to see it. I believe that she can regain some of her lustre and no, she has never hurt anyone, robbed, steal, been in and out of jail, promiscuous or the like.
girl six
October 20th, 2011
9:01 am
weeeeeena, you are such a whiner. had not idea whitney produced cheetah and princess, those are disney movies, correct? big following on those, good job. houston is a decent actress. girlfriends and the game were not my type of shows, but they had a following as well. jumping the broom was well produced, not too sure about the story line though. and r kelley? a hot mess, but the boy can sing his butt off. you people support other freaks without even realizing they are freaks, get a grip. all of this to say–writers, producers, whitney’s various roles in this and the music all sound as if things will combine to be a good movie. i do not have to want to see it ( and i do not want to see it) to be able to see the good abd the potential in it. people get a life! and jennifer, can we not rat me out this time, please?
girl six
October 20th, 2011
9:02 am
‘…the good AND the…’
dbc
October 21st, 2011
1:28 am
This dried up old skunk is now filming a movie? I never heard of any of these people. Did she spend all her money on crack? Just fade into the sunset Whitney… once you were pretty good… leave us all with that memory and do yourself a favor.
shally
October 21st, 2011
6:16 am
why when something positive happening to someone? some people like always have something negitive to say! you know what people! if god is for you who can be against you! sometime peoples do fall.but who are we? we’re not perfect we all are humans so we all make mistake in life. god alone is perfect so let him be judged.you’ll going to se whitney houston strive! because she have our lord and saviour jesus christ with her! god bless u whitney.