The full trailer for the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody has been unveiled.

Billed as "a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted woman behind The Voice", the film stars British actress Naomi Ackie in the role of the late music superstar.

Ackie, who won a BAFTA for her performance in the series The End of the F****** World and was also part of the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker cast, has worked with director Kasi Lemmons (Harriet, Luke Cage) on the film.

The cast also includes Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams and Clarke Peters.

The script for the new film is from Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten (The Two Popes, Darkest Hour, The Theory of Everything).

Naomi Ackie portrays Whitney Houston in the film
Houston was found dead in a bathtub in a Beverly Hills hotel in February 2012. Her death was ruled as an accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use contributing factors.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody is supported by Houston’s estate, meaning the film can use the late singer’s hits.

Houston’s life was previously chronicled on the big screen in the documentaries Whitney and Whitney: Can I Be Me.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody is released in cinemas on 26 December.

AE News