Whitney Houston in Talks to Star in Music-Themed Drama 'Sparkle' (Exclusive)

Whihttp://www.showbiz411.com...din-sparkstney Houston Confirmed for “Sparkle” Remake with Jordin Sparks

So I did tell you first back on May 7th that “Sparkle,” the 1976 movie, was being remade. There have been all sorts of stories since then. But I can tell you that Whitney Houston has confirmed to play Jordin Sparks’s mother in the remake. Here’s my original story: http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/0...field-hits “Sparkle” will reprise the music composed by Curtis Mayfield, which is also good news. Houston being able and ready to shoot this movie is the big headline, and everyone wants it to happen. Whitney did have a relapse last spring and went off to rehab with her old pal Warren Boyd, who’s so good at helping people get back on their feet. Howard Rosenman and Joel Schumacher are producing the film. More to come. Let’s hope the “Sparkle” script is really improved from the original. This was not a landmark movie. But the music was excellent. A strong script will make a big difference.

PS Breaking news! And of course “Exclusive

Confirmed - Whitney Houston to Star in 'Sparkle' With Jordin Sparks

Friday, September 16, 2011; Posted: 08:09 PM - by BWW News Desk

Confirmed-Whitney-Houston-to-Star-in-Sparkle-With-Jordin-Sparks-20010101

With over 170 million combined album, singles and videos sold worldwide during her career with Arista Records, Whitney Houston has established a benchmark for superstardom. It had been speculated that Houston would star opposite IN THE HEIGHTS alum Jordin Sparks in an upcoming remake of 1976's 'Sparkle,' and todayShowbiz411 confirmed the rumor.

Houston will play Sparks's mother in the film, which will feature the original score from composer Curtis Mayfield. Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil will serve as writer and director.

Jordin Sparks won FOX's American Idol at just 17 years old, and followed up with over 9 million singles sold to date. In 2010 she made her Broadway debut as Nina in IN THE HEIGHTS. 'Sparkle' will mark her silver screen debut.

Houston's career has consisted of record-setting achievements in music: the only artist to chart seven consecutive #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits ("Saving All My Love For You," "How Will I Know," "Greatest Love Of All," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," "Didn't We Almost Have It All," "So Emotional," and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"); the first female artist to enter the Billboard 200 album chart at #1 (her second album, Whitney, 1987); and the only artist with seven consecutive multi-platinum albums (Whitney Houston, Whitney, I'm Your Baby Tonight, The Bodyguard, Waiting To Exhale, and The Preacher's Wife soundtracks, and My Love Is Your Love).

In fact, The Bodyguard soundtrack is one of the top 10 biggest-selling albums of all-time (at 17x-platinum in the U.S. alone), and Whitney's career-defining version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" is the biggest-selling U.S. single of all-time (at 4x-platinum).

Derek Luke Lands A Lead Role In Sparkle

published: 2011-09-22 00:45:54 Author: Eric Eisenberg

It's surprising how rapidly the remake of Sam O'Steen's Sparkle is coming together. While the project stuttered in development hell for an extended period of time, it's all been working out these past two weeks. First, Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks and Mike Epps signed on to star in the film with Jumping The Broom helmer Salim Akil in the director's chair, and now, according to Black Film, Derek Luke has also joined the cast.

Confirmed in an interview with producer Debra Martin Chase, Luke will play Stix, the part played by Miami Vice's Philip Michael Thomas in the original. The story follows a group of three young singers, led by a girl named Sparkle (Jordin Sparks), as they move from the church choir to the big time. In addition to being a budding songwriter, Stix also serves as the group's manager and is Sparkle's love interest. Houston will play Sparkle's mother, who doesn't exactly approve of her daughter's singing career, while Epps plays Satin, a dangerous man who gets one of the singers hooked on drugs. The film is scheduled to go into production next month with TriStar Pictures attached as a distributor.

Derek Luke is having a pretty damn good year. In addition to this new starring role, he also played a member of the Howling Commandos in this summer's blockbusterCaptain America: The First Avenger and had a regular role on the Jada Pinkett Smith series Hawthorne. Add the fact that he has a role in the Lorene Scafaria comedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and you can be assured that we'll be seeing plenty more of him in the future.

BlackFilm.com.........	#889	[-]
Diamond Posts: 7460 (Wed, 21 Sep, 2011 21:20:46) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Blocking Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Breaking: Derek Luke Cast In Sparkle Remake Breaking News: Derek Luke Cast In Sparkle Remake by Wilson Morales September 21, 2011 Blackfilm.com has exclusively learned that Derek Luke, who was last seen as Gabe Jones of The Howling Commandos in Marvel’s ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ has been cast in the remake of the 1976 music-themed pic “Sparkle,” joining R&B American Idol-winner Jordin Sparks, Mike Epps, and Whitney Houston. In speaking with producer Debra Martin Chase, the Chicago native mentioned that Luke will play the role of Stix, who was portrayed by Philip Michael Thomas in the original. The story follows three sisters who begin singing in their church choir in Harlem in the late 1950s and go on to become a successful girl group. Their sudden rise unravels their personal lives. The remake will be set in 1968 Detroit during the rise of Motown. Story will focus on the youngest sister, a music prodigy named Sparkle (Sparks), and her struggle to become a star while overcoming issues that are tearing her family apart. Salim Akil (‘Jumping The Broom‘) will be directing the film from a script by Mara Brock Akil. TriStar Pictures will distribute the film in association with Stage 6 Films. Production is scheduled to start next month. Luke was recently seen opposite Jada Pinkett Smith in the now-cancelled TNT series ‘Hawthorne.’ The ‘Captain America: The First Avengers‘ Blu-ray and DVD will hitting stores on October 25th. http://www.blackfilm.com/...le-remake/ ______________________________________________ excellent actor - hope the casting continues in this vein.

SoulAlive	MickyDolenz said: SoulAlive said: Hollywood is so lazy.I'm surprised that they're not planning a remake to 'The Wiz'. There was a story a few years ago that there was going to be a remake starring Justin Timberlake & Queen Latifah and some others I can't think of right now.
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SPYZFAN1	Justin in "The Wiz"?....oh Lawd. Forget Whitney and get Lonette McKee to play Jordin's mother. She still looks the same and can sing. But this is Hollywood and Whitney's name is starpower. sosgemini you got that one with "Crackle". (lol)
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Graycap23	Just what the world needs......................another remake.
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IDRAG4MJ	JORDIN is perfect is perfect for this role
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SoulAlive	Graycap23 said: Just what the world needs......................another remake. it's ridiculous,isn't it? Beyonce is getting ready to star in yet another remake of A Star Is Born.I'm beginning to think that Hollywood doesn't have any more original ideas.
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SoulAlive	furthermore,the original Sparkle movie wasn't all that great to begin with.It's the same,predictable,rags-to-riches tale that we've seen many times before.
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SoulAlive	^^I agree,it was the music (written and produced by Curtis Mayfield) that made that film special.
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Graycap23	SoulAlive said: Graycap23 said: Just what the world needs......................another remake. it's ridiculous,isn't it? Beyonce is getting ready to star in yet another remake of A Star Is Born.I'm beginning to think that Hollywood doesn't have any more original ideas. Makes me wanna say..............damn......Damn.........DAMN!
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kibbles	SoulAlive said: ^^I agree,it was the music (written and produced by Curtis Mayfield) that made that film special. i saw at the drive in when i was a little girl, and i remember being angry that the original cast didn't sing the soundtrack. i guess i didn't appreciate the queen as much as i do now. but yes, it is definitely the music which has endured moreso than the film itself.
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KCOOLMUZIQ	Entertainer said: KCOOLMUZIQ said: Wasn't me because I already knew it weeks ago myself. no it wasn't u will ALWAYS think of like a "ACT OF GOD"! N another realm. mean of all people who might of been aliens or angels.if found out that wasn't of this earth, would not have been that surprised. R.I.P.
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Whihttp://www.showbiz411.com...din-sparkstney Houston Confirmed for “Sparkle” Remake with Jordin Sparks

Confirmed - Whitney Houston to Star in 'Sparkle' With Jordin Sparks

Derek Luke Lands A Lead Role In Sparkle

Breaking: Derek Luke Cast In Sparkle Remake