The producers of Whitney Houston’s biopic, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, are being sued by Sony Music Entertainment (SME) for not paying to use the late singer’s music in the film.
Music Business Worldwide notes a California lawsuit stating Boston-based Anthem Films, NYBO Productions, and Los Angeles-based Black Label Media entered a licensing deal days before the film’s release. The filmmakers never paid the agreed licensing fees with the deal in place.
“Unlike other types of films, musical biopics by their nature require use of the subject musician’s music, as it is nearly impossible to explain the importance of a musician’s creative genius or unique style and talent without the use of the musician’s music,” the legal team states. “To date, Anthem has not paid the fees, or any portion of the fees, due under the agreements.”
SME seeks unspecific damages, including potential profit loss, citing the producers’ “willful and deliberate infringement.”
Specifically, Sony has filed a lawsuit against Anthem Films, Nybo Productions, and Black Label Media, claiming that payments for including Houston’s catalog in the movie should have been paid by July 2023. The publication noted that the exact amount owed is unknown.
“As a result of Anthem’s failures, Defendants’ use of the SME Recordings in the Film has been unauthorized, and Defendants have had no legal right to use the SME Recordings,” Sony’s claim said. “Despite being given notice of their infringing conduct, Defendants have continued to distribute and otherwise exploit the SME Recordings in connection with the Film without authorization.”
“Defendants’ conduct has caused and continues to cause substantial and irreparable harm to Plaintiffs and the estate of Whitney Houston while enriching Defendants at the expense of Plaintiffs and the estate of Whitney Houston,” it added.
The producers are now being accused of “direct copyright infringement” and “vicarious copyright infringement,” but both parties did not return Rolling Stone‘s request for comment on the lawsuit matter.
The latest biopic exploring the life of the late Grammy-award-winning singer Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, is hitting the theaters this Friday, December 23. After news of the film began circling the web, fans of the vocalist had several questions. The first and most crucial question was, who would play the legendary recording artist? With the trailer’s release, we now know Rise of Skywalker actress, Naomi Ackie, will star as the Newark, New Jersey native.
Second, who will cover the revered vocalist’s songs for the film? Canadian singer Deborah Cox did the honors for the 2015 Lifetime tv film, I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston Story. However, this production’s executive director and Houston’s former mentor, Clive Davis, thought it would be best to keep Houston’s original vocals. Or, as he told USA Today, “We just didn’t think anyone could capture her vocal genius.”
Fans may be torn on the film’s casting, but they overwhelmingly agree with Davis’ decision to keep Houston’s original vocal in the feature film. After all, Houston is considered the greatest vocalist of all time. With such a long list of groundbreaking singles to her name, including her cover of Dolly Porton’s “I Will Always Love You,” the song viewers are looking forward to the most as part of this film is the national anthem.
Previewed in the trailer, Houston’s 1991 performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV has remained the gold standard for decades. Unfortunately, the footage hasn’t been remastered for streaming services, but thanks to archival VHS footage, you can now watch Houston’s performance on YouTube.
Watch the full performance above.
I Wanna Dance With Somebody is set to hit the theaters on December 23. To grab your tickets, click here.
We’ve been flush with well-made music biopics on legendary talents as of late. 2018’s Bohemian Rapsody told the story of Queen’s Freddie Mercury, 2019’s Rocketman likewise did the same for Elton John, and most recently, Baz Luhrmann gave us an exhaustive look at Elvis this year. Now the latest musical biopic to be announced is Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and the iconic singer’s story definitely bears telling.
Houston will be played by Naomi Ackie, but her singing voice will still be all Whitney Houston’s original vocals. “When it came to Whitney, we just didn’t think anyone could capture her vocal genius, so it will be the Whitney voice in the film,” executive producer Clive Davis said in an interview with USA Today. So what else is there to know about the film? Well, everything. Check out our guide below to the release date of I Wanna Dance With Somebody, the plot, cast, and trailer.
Release Date
I Wanna Dance With Somebody will be in theaters on December 23. It’ll be exclusively in theaters (at least at first), so just in time for a holiday trip to the movies with the fam.
Cast
The role of Whitney Houston will be played by Naomi Ackie, who you might know from her role as Jannah in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. Stanley Tucci (of the popular Searching For Italy food documentary series) plays music executive Clive Davis, credited with discovering Houston. Also included in the main cast are Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, and Clarke Peters.
I Wanna Dance With Somebody will be directed by Kasi Lemmons (Harriet) and the screenplay was written by Anthony McCarten, who was nominated for an Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody. Clive Davis executive produced the film.
Plot
The official plot of I Wanna Dance with Somebody calls it, “A powerful and triumphant celebration of the incomparable Whitney Houston.” It elaborates further, adding that, “The film is a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted woman behind The Voice. From New Jersey choir girl to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time, audiences are taken on an inspirational, poignant—and so emotional—journey through Houston’s trailblazing life and career, with show-stopping performances and a soundtrack of the icon’s most beloved hits as you’ve never heard them before. Don’t you wanna dance?”
Trailer
Watch the trailer for I Wanna Dance With Somebody below.
In recent years, it has paid off to land the leading role in a musician biopic. Rami Malek won his first Oscar for playing the late Freddie Mercury in 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Jennifer Hudson was hand-selected by the late Aretha Franklin to portray her in last year’s Respect. Austin Butler is enjoying a career breakthrough in 2022 because of his titular star turn in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. Naomi Ackie is next up.
It’s been two years since Ackie was cast as Whitney Houston for I Wanna Dance With Somebody, the long-gestated Houston biopic. The first official trailer was released by Sony in mid-September, showing Ackie as Houston wowing Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci) and ascending as the voice of a generation. The two-minute teaser ends with Houston’s famed 1991 performance of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV. A second trailer arrived in early November, which spotlighted Houston standing against unjust criticism for not being “Black enough” and meeting resistance after starting her tumultuous relationship with Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders). But when and where will we be able to watch the Kasi Lemmons-directed film in its full glory?
I Wanna Dance With Somebody will almost undoubtedly be available to stream at some point, but to start, it’s set for an exclusive theatrical release beginning on December 23. Tickets are available here.
The world premiere happened on Tuesday, December 13, in New York City.
“When I first found out I got the part, I think this was actually the scariest part for me, knowing that everyone would see it at some point,” Ackie told Vogueahead of the premiere. “But I’ve been with it long enough now that I’m really ready to share it with the world. I’m so proud of what we achieved with it, and there’s a lot of love in there. It’s a lot of pressure, and you can’t help but feel slightly stressed by the magnitude of it, but this is the last piece of the puzzle, in a way.”
Houston tragically passed away on February 11, 2012, at 48. Her official cause of death was an accidental drowning in a Los Angeles hotel bathtub. The beloved icon was in LA ahead of that year’s Grammys and had been expected to attend Davis’ annual pre-Grammys party that night.
Baz Luhrmann is back with his latest biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody. The film will trek through the rise and fall of pop superstar Whitney Houston.
Former Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker actress Naomi Ackie has been tasked with Houston’s performance. Joining her are Ashton Sanders, Stanley Tucci, and Law And Order: Special Victims Unit alum Tamara Tunie.
While Ackie’s portrayal seems spot on, judging by the trailer released this past September, the actress won’t be singing in the movie. Clive Davis, Houston’s longtime producer, and collaborator, recently shared that only Houston’s vocals will be used in the film.
“When it came to Whitney, we just didn’t think anyone could capture her vocal genius, so it will be the Whitney voice in the film,” Davis told USA Today.
Davis will serve as the film’s executive producer. Alongside him are Kasi Lemmons (Harriet), who will direct, and Oscar-nominated Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody).
Here is the film’s synopsis, per Sony Pictures:
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody is a powerful and triumphant celebration of the incomparable Whitney Houston. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, written by Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten, produced by legendary music executive Clive Davis, and starring BAFTA Award winner Naomi Ackie, the film is a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted woman behind The Voice. From New Jersey choir girl to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time, audiences are taken on an inspirational, poignant — and so emotional — journey through Houston’s trailblazing life and career, with show-stopping performances and a soundtrack of the icon’s most beloved hits as you’ve never heard them before. Don’t you wanna dance?”
I Wanna Dance With Somebody will be in theaters on December 23.
