Kasi Lemmons Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Naomi Ackie plays the role of iconic singer Whitney Houston in the new movie I Wanna Dance With Somebody and fans are probably wondering if that’s actually her singing in the film.

Angelique Jackson When Kerry Washington stepped onto the gold and black carpet at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood for the fifth ABFF Honors ceremony on March 5, she had the trailblazing Black women who forged a path for her to become an actor, producer and director on her mind — and an homage to one on her person. “I’m wearing an actual dress that Whitney Houston wore,” Washington told Variety, explaining that “When you get an award for excellence in the arts, you’ve gotta go to Black excellence.” As Washington prepared for the event, where she was honored alongside Courtney B. Vance, Janelle Monáe and Macro’s Charles D. King, plus filmmaker Kasi Lemmons and the cast of “Eve’s Bayou,” all for their contributions to the arts, one word came to mind: community.

Taking the stage in theaters at the tail end of 2022, the Whitney Houston biopic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” is a crowd-pleasing homage to the life, legacy, and work of an icon who sold over 200 million records worldwide. One of the year’s last films is also one of the best as a shared theatrical experience.

“Memory is a selection of images, some elusive, others imprinted indelibly on the brain,” says the film’s narrator, voiced by Tamara Tunie. Kasi Lemmons’ eerie, Southern Gothic directorial feature debut, “Eve’s Bayou,” is as elusive twenty-five years later as it was in 1997.  It concerns Eve Batiste (Jurnee Smollett), the youngest daughter of the respected and popular doctor Louis Batiste (Samuel L Jackson).

The story of superstar singer Whitney Houston is ultimately one about tragedy. Gone well before her time, one of the world’s brightest stars and greatest singers of all time still was able to leave an indelible mark on the world, which is shown in the new film, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” READ MORE: ‘Wakanda Forever’ Review: ‘Black Panther’ Sequel Is Overstuffed & Yet Still Succeeds With Heart, Soul, Grief & Great Stakes As seen in the trailer for the film, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” stars Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston, a woman who exploded on the music scene in the ‘80s after people became transfixed with her incredible voice.

Naomi Ackie is giving fans a look at «the Whitney you never knew» in the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic, The Star Wars actress is embodying the late diva in the film, due out this December, and fans got a first look at her portrayal of the legendary vocalist when the first trailer dropped on Thursday.The trailer begins with Whitney's origins as a New Jersey choir girl, who steps on stage for her mother, Cissy (Tamara Tunie), one night when legendary record exec Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci) is in the audience. And the rest is history...The trailer gives a look at some iconic Whitney looks and moments, including her fun «How Will I Know» music video, the sultry «It's Not Right, But It's Okay» look and, of course, her iconic performance of the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXV.The biopic, which is directed by  director Kasi Lemmons and written by  Anthony McCarten, also stars Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown, Nafessa Williams as Robyn Crawford, Clarke Peters as John Houston, and more.Watch the full trailer below:Ackie spoke with ET about playing Houston last May, just after her casting was announced, and she made a point to assure fans everywhere that she was «doing the work» to prepare for the massive role. «I’m going to try my best because that woman — it sends shivers down my spine how much she means to me, the world, Black women, African American women,» she said at the time. «I’m going to throw my everything into making sure she is represented properly.” “I just want to tell her story.

Whitney Houston is getting the biopic treatment with “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” The highly anticipated film — from director Kasi Lemmons — covers the musical icon’s legendary life and her tragic death at age 48. It also promises to feature songs that built her career, while ensuring her status among beloved artists.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterFor the first time in two years, Tribeca Festival is going back indoors.After canceling the 2020 edition and staying mostly outside in 2021, the annual gathering is returning to traditional premieres, panels and parties to celebrate its 21st edition. It’s also staying put in Manhattan, a change from last year’s version that spanned all five boroughs of New York City.“We’re back to normal,” says Jane Rosenthal, who founded Tribeca Festival with Robert De Niro in 2002. “We are watching things together as a community.

Angelique Jackson In its 26th year, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is more star-studded than ever, with a robust lineup of Black film and television stars and creators.After two years of COVID-related pivots, the festival returns to South Beach in Miami for a five-day engagement full of special screenings, panel discussions and events celebrating the Black film and television community. Among the talent joining ABFF festival ambassador Issa Rae, who will debut her new HBO Max series “Rap Sh!t” at the festival are Chanté Adams, Yahya Abdul- Mateen II, Kenya Barris, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Ben Crump, Michael Ealy, DeVon Franklin, Kasi Lemmons, Judge Greg Mathis, LisaRaye McCoy, Kyla Pratt, Trevante Rhodes, Kendrick Sampson, Robin Thede, Judge Lynn Toler, Susan Kelechi Watson and Salli Richardson Whitfield, among many others.

Naomi Ackie is saving all her love for the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”!

Naomi Ackie is saving all her love for the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic, TheStar Wars actress is embodying the late diva in the film, due out this December, and fans got a first look at her portrayal of the legendary vocalist when the poster was released on Monday. The biopic is directed by director Kasi Lemmons and written by Anthony McCarten.On the poster, Ackie's Houston is standing facing the heavens with her arms outstretched.

Ashton Sanders will be playing a young Bobby Brown in the upcoming biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

Kasi Lemmons is the rare filmmaker as comfortable in dreamworlds as histories. This week, Be Reel celebrates the groundbreaking director’s 60th trip around the sun by discussing three of Lemmons’ best-known films: “Eve’s Bayou” (1997), “Talk To Me” (2007), and “Harriet” (2019).

Kate Aurthur editorThe plan to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill is back on track — and Kasi Lemmons, the director of 2019’s “Harriet,” is “thrilled” about it. “This was well thought out under Obama,” Lemmons told Variety. “But just to have Biden talk about fast-tracking it — that’s just such good news.”In April 2016, President Barack Obama’s secretary of the treasury, Jacob Lew, announced that Harriet Tubman would take the place of Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.

Rebecca Rubin News Editor, OnlineUniversal has selected participants for the studio’s 2020 Writers Program, a paid initiative that spotlights up-and-coming scribes.Universal’s Global Talent Development and Inclusion, the division that runs the program, said 1,500 people applied, making it the biggest applicant pool since the program started six years ago.

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterAfter a staggering 1,500 applications (the largest number of the submissions for the program ever), Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion has selected Jennifer Coates, Angela Delgado, Satinder Kaur and Larry Santana as the participants in this year’s Universal Writers Program.

Cheryl Dunye in ‘Watermelon Woman.’ (Photo courtesy of First Run Features)

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterThe Locarno Film Festival StepIn 2020 will take place virtually in the Variety Streaming Room August 5-7 with three 50-minute sessions covering the future of theatrical experience, the state of independent film production and the future of film festivals and markets.Speakers include Rodrigo Teixeira, Producer (‘Call Me By Your Name’, ‘Port Authority’); Kasi Lemmons, Director/Writer (‘Harriet’); Elissa Federoff, President Distribution, NEON; Daniel Battsek,

After writing and directing the Oscar-nominated biopic Harriet, Kasi Lemmons has set her next project — an adaptation ofMaaza Mengiste’sThe Shadow King. Set during Mussolini’s 1935 invasion of Ethiopia, the best-selling historical fiction novel tells the story of the Ethiopian women soldiers who were left out of the historical record of World War II.

By Dave McNary

By Anthony D'Alessandro

Last year, the director Kasi Lemmons did something interesting, if not consistently successful, with the character of Harriet Tubman: She turned her into a modern action hero. Lemmons’s film “Harriet” had the beats and the posture towards its audience of a thrill-ride multiplex feature, but set in the 19th-century South instead of the present day and starring Cynthia Erivo instead of, say, Liam Neeson.

Harriet will celebrate Black History Month by screening for free in early February.Focus Features and Regal Cinemas announced the promotion on Friday. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, the film stars Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo as the iconic slave-turned-abolitionist Harriet Tubman.The free screenings in 50 Regal sites across the country will be held Feb.