Ashton Sanders Cast As Bobby Brown in Upcoming Whitney Houston Biopic

Award-winning actor Ashton Sanders has officially joined the cast of the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody, directed by Kasi Lemmons and co-produced by Pat Houston on behalf of the Houston Estate and legendary music producer Clive Davis.

Perhaps best known for his roles in the Academy Award-winning Best Picture Moonlight and his current turn as RZA on Amazon’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Sanders will portray Houston’s husband and R&B sensation Bobby Brown. 

Slated for a December 2022 release, I Wanna Dance with Somebody is described by IMDB as a “joyous, emotional and heart-breaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston…tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.”

Now regarded as the greatest R&B Pop vocalist of all time, Houston is the most awarded singer in history and among the bestselling artists worldwide with over 200 million records sold to date. 

Take a look at the rest of the announced cast members and the film’s director below:

01

Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston

Perhaps best known for her recent role alongside Lena Waithe in this year’s Master of None Presents: Moments in Love, this British actress has 20 film and television credits under her belt.

02

Moses Ingram as Robyn Crawford

A newcomer to the screen (The Queen’s Gambit was her first-ever movie role), Ingram will portray Houston’s best friend and often-rumored love interest.

03

Lance A. Williams as Gerry Griffith

Williams will take on the role of the A&R rep who discovered Houston and changed her life forever.

04

Kasi Lemmons – Director

A former actress herself, Lemmons has directed 12 films and television shows, including 1997’s Eve’s Bayou and 2019’s Harriet.