Whitney Houston biopic teases Naomi Ackie as late singer in first look poster
A first look at Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston has been released for the forthcoming biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
The Star Wars actor can be seen in one of Houston's iconic poses as she looks up above in the teaser poster.
Meanwhile, select fans were treated to a brief clip from the film at CinemaCon on Monday, 25 April which saw the 29-year-old performing the title track while rocking Houston's signature curls and a pastel-coloured getup.
According to USAToday, the British actor was also seen playing the music icon during her highly-praised rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” during the 1991 Super Bowl.
The actor had her arms outstretched in a white tracksuit and headband as was famously worn by the late music legend.
The film, which is based on the epic life and music of the iconic singer, was written by Bohemian Rhapsody screenwriter Antony McCarten.
It also stars The Devil Wears Prada star Stanley Tucci as Clive Davis and Moonlight’s Ashton Sanders as Houston's ex-husband Bobby Brown.
Read more: New documentary claims Whitney Houston was sexually abused as a child
Tamara Tunie will portray Houston's mother Cissy, Clarke Peters will star Houston's father John and Nafessa Williams plays Houston's former assistant and creative director Robyn Crawford.
Music mogul Davis, who shepherded Houston's career, is a producer on the film and teased that the movie is a "very realistic, very honest story" of her life.
Watching Ackie's audition tape, "we were very impressed that Whitney's persona was being captured," Davis told USAToday.
He added: "The (singing) voice, of course, will be Whitney's. 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."
Ackie, from Walthamstow, came to prominence playing the role of Jannah, the former stormtrooper turned rebel collaborator in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
She also appeared in Steve McQueen's Small Axe short film anthology, Education, and the Channel 4 comedy-drama series The End of the F**king World.
Watch: Bobby Brown paid an 'emotional' visit to Whitney Houston grave