Trailer, Pics and Release Date For Lifetime’s ‘Whitney,’ Angela Bassett’s Directorial Debut Posted by Wilson Morales
December 3, 2014
Lifetime has release several pics and a release date for its upcoming biopic on Whitney Houston.
Golden Globe Award winner and Academy Award nominee Angela Bassett makes her directorial debut with the Lifetime Original Movie Whitney, featuring Yaya DaCosta (Lee Daniels’ The Butler) in the lead role with Arlen Escarpeta (Final Destination 5) alongside her as Bobby Brown. The much-anticipated world premiere will be on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at 8pm ET/PT.
Whitney chronicles the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model Whitney Houston and singer and songwriter Bobby Brown from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity to their courtship and tumultuous marriage. Throughout it all, difficulties followed the superstar couple while they dealt with the overwhelming rewards and consequences of the fame and fortune created by Houston’s meteoric rise that would soon overshadow them both. Whitney and singer Brown met in 1989, were married in 1992 and their daughter, Bobbi Kristina, was born the following year. They divorced in 2007.
Houston’s vocal performances in the film are sung by Grammy®-nominated and multiplatinum-selling entertainer Deborah Cox. The music featured in the film includes Houston’s hits “The Greatest Love of All,” “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” “I’m Every Woman” and “I Will Always Love You” as well as Brown’s “Every Little Step.”
Yolonda Ross is cast in the role of Whitney‘s longtime friend Robyn Crawford. Also in the cast are Suzzanne Douglas and former soap star Cornelius Smith Jr. (All My Children) in the roles of Whitney’s mother, soul and Gospel singer Cissy Houston and brother Michael, respectively.
The film was produced by The Sanitsky Company. Larry Sanitsky, who worked with Bassett on the Lifetime film ‘Betty and Coretta,’ is the executive producer. Shem Bitterman, who wrote ‘Coretta’ is the screenwriter.
Following the movie’s premiere, Lifetime will air the hour-long documentary Beyond the Headlines: Whitney Houston at 10pm, providing an in-depth look at the life and death of Houston. Interviews with friends– including longtime friend Darlene Love–colleagues and industry insiders will offer personal reflections and insight into the life and career of this American songstress and the tragic circumstances of her downfall. Beyond the Headlines: Whitney Houston is produced by Peacock Productions.
Clip – I’m Your Baby Tonight featuring Deborah Cox’s voice
Yaya singing “I Will Always Love You”
Clip – Robyn Advises Whitney About Her Love LIfe
Yaya on playing Whitney Houston
Deborah Cox on using her vocals for the film
Angela Bassett on directing her first feature
