The Preacher's Wife star may be making a come back. News has surfaced that Whitney Houston is in talks to star in
Sparkle,
a Sony Pictures remake of the 1976 music-themed drama. "American Idol"
winner Jordin Sparks and actor Mike Epps also are set to participate in
the redux, according to
The Hollywood Reporter.
"The Game" executive producer Mara Brock Akil wrote the new script
while her husband Salim Akil, who cut his teeth directing episodes of
"The Game" and Brock Akil's first hit show "Girlfriends" will serve as
director. Producers include Debra Martin Chase, TD Jakes, the Akils and
Curtis Wallace.
Sparkle, loosely based on Diana Ross and the Supremes, follows
three sisters and their struggle out of the 1950s Harlem ghetto and
into the spotlight. The original
Sparkle star was played by Irene
Cara alongside Lonette McKee and Mary Alice, who played her sister and
mother, respectively. Tony King played the evil local hoodlum Satin that
ultimately kills McKee's character.
In the new version of
Sparkle, Sparks will play the timid lead
character and Houston will play her mother. Epps will reprise Satin,
but instead of a local hood, he'll play a stand-up comedian who marries
one of Sparkle's sisters and hooks her on drugs.
As for Ms. Houston, this role will be her first since she last twirled around the silver screen in 1996 for
The Preacher's Wife co-starring Denzel Washington and Courtney Vance. The R&B icon was originally involved with
Sparkle
as a producer when the project made the rounds around Hollywood via
Warner years ago with the late Aaliyah as the lead. Houston will retain
her producer credit in the 2011 project.
