Whitney Houston's life story has been told many times over the years in TV specials and limited series, but I Wanna Dance With Someone, starring Naomi Ackie, promises to be different. The first trailers were released in late 2022, and the movie hits theaters on December 23, 2022, just in time to get all your friends together to see how Hollywood plans to retell Whitney's long, roller-coaster career and personal life .
But first, it must be said: Ackie doesn't actually sing on most of the songs on "I Wanna Dance With Somebody . " Most of the singing in the movie is actually Whitney's, with Aki lip-syncing. Producer Clive Davis noted that Ackie had some singing talent, but who could really (really, really) truly deliver Houston's legendary voice? "Speaking of Whitney, we just thought no one could capture her vocal genius, so it's going to be Whitney's voice that's going to be in the movie," he told USA Today . Still, Aki practiced some of Whitney's more iconic mannerisms, like the way she twirled her hands during interviews. She told AV Club, "My favorite thing about Whitney is that she always knew her voice was there. For most of her career, she didn't push too much. She didn't over practice or overdo it. Rehearsal. She's very relaxed because she's confident in her abilities."
In an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune , she added that she doesn't mind criticism that she doesn't look like Whitney. In fact, it helped her take on the role. "It gave me the freedom to create a new version of something that everyone knows. The film is an impressionistic version of a real person. The thing I learned the most is that it's not about imitating someone and looking and talking like They're the same. It's the freedom to share who they are because there's no one like Whitney — and there shouldn't be," she said.
This is where you can watch Ackie in action.
Where can I live stream if I want to dance with someone?
I Wanna Dance With Someone will be released on December 23rd and will not be available for streaming for some time. Since the movie is a Sony Pictures project, there are only so many services that will ultimately be able to stream it. In April 2021, Sony and Netflix signed an agreement that allows the service to stream Sony movies online about six months after their release, although Netflix has also begun streaming some movies directly through the service.
This means I Wanna Dance with Someone will likely be available on Netflix sometime in early summer 2023, but it could also be earlier. Eventually, the Sony movie will also be available on Disney+ and Hulu after its Netflix premiere, and may not be available on HBO Max even in the distant future, Indiewire reports. However, the film may eventually be available for purchase on Amazon Prime.
What do critics think of I Want to Dance with Someone ?
When the trailer for the latest Whitney Houston biopic first premiered, fans were rightfully a little worried. Some believe Ackie might not make it, while others worry the film might not do justice to Whitney's life and career, as some other projects have reportedly left fans a bit cold in the past. But initial reviews were kind to the latest retelling of her story.
Tanesha Peoples of The Black Wall Street Journal noted that as a superfan, the film allowed her to see parts of Whitney's life that she didn't really know about, as it dug deeper into her relationship with Mother's relationship with Robin Crawford. Reportedly in love. Rolling Stone notes that the new version doesn't add much, but for fans, it's a worthy celebration of Whitney's life and career. People will definitely have more to talk about once it hits theaters and eventually Netflix.
