Angela Bassett makes her directorial debut with the Lifetime Original Movie "Whitney," featuring Yaya DaCosta in the lead role, with Arlen Escarpeta alongside her as Bobby Brown.
The much-anticipated world premiere will be this 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.
Houston’s vocal performances in the film are sung by 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."
Produced by The Sanitsky Company, Whitney is executive produced by Larry Sanitsky ("Betty & Coretta"). Shem Bitterman ("Betty & Coretta") wrote the script.
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.
Below is a new clip from the film, featuring Yaya performing "I Will Always Love You," as well as 3 new behind-the-scenes clips from the film, featuring DaCosta, Bassett and Cox, talking about Yaya’s transformation, as well as bringing Whitney’s original music back to life in someone else’s voice, and more