Deadline is exclusively reporting that Stanley Tucci is the latest name to join the cast of the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

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Last year TriStar Pictures acquired the rights to the project, which will focus on the life and music of Whitney Houston. The project is formed by The Whitney Houston Estate, Primary Wave and Grammy-winning music producer and Whitney Houston’s mentor Clive Davis.

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Stanley Tucci (whose recent credits include Jolt and La Fortuna) will be playing the role of Clive Davis, the lawyer-turned-music producer and executive who had an extraordinary eye for spotting talent. That ability to find a star before they erupted on the scene led him to the wildly talented Houston before anyone knew who she was and he guided her to becoming a star.

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Tucci joins a cast that includes Naomi Ackie, Moses Ingram and Ashton Sanders. Kasi Lemmons is directing the film, with Anthony McCarten, who is also writing the screenplay, producing alongside Pat Houston on behalf of the Houston Estate, Clive Davis, Larry Mestel on behalf of Primary Wave Music, Denis O’Sullivan, Jeff Kalligheri, and Black Label Media’s Molly Smith, Trent and Thad Luckinbill. Stella Meghie will be executive producing alongside Black Label Media’s Rachel Smith and Seth Spector.

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I Wanna Dance With Somebody is scheduled for cinematic release on the 23rd December 2022.