The movie “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” is a 2022 film that pays tribute to Whitney Houston, one of the ultimate female R&B pop vocalists. This film, driven by the performances of Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, and Ashton Sanders, explores Whitney’s ascent from unknown to global stardom. Dig deeper to learn more fun and interesting details and behind-the-scenes info about this project.
Where it Filmed?
The production of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” spanned across various filming locations. These include Boston, Arlington, and Foxborough in Massachusetts, USA. Some scenes were also shot in Newark, New Jersey and Tampa, Florida. The specific filming dates are currently unavailable.
Cast Details
| Cast Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Naomi Ackie | Whitney Houston |
| Stanley Tucci | Clive Davis |
| Ashton Sanders | Bobby Brown |
| Tamara Tunie | Cissy Houston |
| Nafessa Williams | Robyn Crawford |
| Clarke Peters | John Houston |
| Daniel Washington | Gary Houston |
| Bailee Lopes | Bobbi Kristina (8-11 Years Old) |
| Bria Danielle Singleton | Bobbi Kristina (16-19 Years Old) |
| JaQuan Malik Jones | Michael Houston |
| Kris Sidberry | Pat Houston |
| Dave Heard | Rickey Minor |
| Lance A. Williams | Gerry Griffith |
| Luke Crory | Superfan |
| Jeffrey L. Brown | Pastor |
| Andrea Eversley | Barbara |
| Devon Coull | Policeman (ATL) |
| Jaison Hunter | Jermaine Jackson |
| Steven DeMarco | Engineer #1 (LA Studio) |
| Paul Held | Merv Griffin |
| Lynn Leger | Anita Baker |
| Ernst Berrouet | Al Sharpton |
| Paul Taft | Video Director (How Will I Know) |
| Maurice Emmanuel Parent | Producer #2 |
| Brandon G. Green | R&B DJ |
| Ross MacDonald | Director (Bodyguard) |
| Tobias Wilson | Engineer #2 |
| Jon F. Merz | Captain |
| Evelyn Howe | Stylist |
| Charles Baglio | Police Officer |
| Brett Kline | Paparazzi |
| Gene Yee | Chinese Family Member |
| Olia Neiman | Interviewer (Europe) |
| Gary Tanguay | Superbowl Commentator |
| Alexandria Danielle King | Passenger (in Traffic) |
| Naheem Garcia | New Hope Pastor |
| Sean Amos | Minister |
| Shirvorne Bruder | Red Carpet Celebrity |
| Jay Dunigan | Paul |
| Eileen Gonzales | TV Commentator |
| Eric Gledhill | Flag Folder |
| A.J. Rubin | Bugle Player |
| Cedrick Ekra | Male Backup Dancer |
| Lovely Hoffman | Female Backup Singer |
| Adrienne Nails | Female Backup Singer |
| Shikena Stanton | Female Backup Singer |
| Evonne Archer | Chicago Concert Keyboardist |
| Mtali Banda | Chicago Concert Saxophonist |
| Ciara J. Dillion | Nanny |
| Jamie Tompkins | Media Commentator |
| Paul White Jr. | New Hope Organ Player |
| Antoinette Smith | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Leshia Boone | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Brian C.L. Bailey | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Linda Chalk | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Carolyn Bernadette Spencer-Holmes | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Machelle A. Smith | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Chappella Rabess | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Melissa ‘meme’ Johnson | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Charisse M. Freeman | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Darlene Y. Williams | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Patryce N. Archie | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| James E. Odom | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Rosehell Y. Hamlet-Sciaraffa | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Francine G. Pina-Council | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Sheila Shepard | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Jan M. Washington | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Showna Denyse Kelley | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Jermaine Clyde Leggett | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Sonya M. Crapps | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Joy M. Howard | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Tammie M. Terry | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Karen Grifin-Eberhart | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Terrence J. Haynes | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Kenya Richardson | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Terry A. Reynolds | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Kevin J. Jiles | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Vanessa Cofer | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Krista General | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Yashica Haynes-Blue | New Hope 1983 Choir |
| Alex Fetbroth | ‘How Will I Know’ Dancer |
| Lindon Phillips-Johnson | ‘How Will I Know’ Dancer / ‘I’m Your Baby’ Dancer |
| Alex Arce | ‘How Will I Know’ Dancer |
| Ebony Williams | ‘How Will I Know’ Dancer |
| Olivia Cipolla | ‘How Will I Know’ Dancer |
| Christian Deshautelle | ‘How Will I Know’ Dancer |
| Kayla Luoma | ‘How Will I Know’ Dancer |
| Nick Silva | ‘I’m Your Baby’ Dancer |
| Nelson Chalas | ‘I’m Your Baby’ Dancer / ‘So Emotional’ Dancer |
| Chance Thuman | ‘I’m Your Baby’ Dancer / ‘So Emotional’ Dancer |
| Gabbrielle Anacleto | ‘I’m Every Woman’ Dancer |
| Maya Sutton | ‘I’m Every Woman’ Dancer |
| Devin Woolridge | Bobby Brown Dancer |
| Tarikh Campbell | Bobby Brown Dancer |
| David Macklin Sr. | Rickey Minor’s Band |
| Krisanthi Pappas | Rickey Minor’s Band |
| Elan Trotman | Rickey Minor’s Band |
| Robbie Buchanan | Sweetwater’s Keyboardist |
| Elegance Bratton | Spencer |
| Richard Conti | Arista Executive |
| Greg Roman | Arista Executive |
| Bradley Nnadi | Red Carpet Photographer |
| Ricardo Cisneros | Red Carpet Photographer |
| Desary Vailencour | Red Carpet Reporter |
| Jacobi Brown | Rickey’s Pianist #2 |
| Zaria Rampaul-Essue | Havana Fan |
| Priscilla Walker | Shy Fan |
| Veronica Nix | Whitney Stylist |
| Brooke Basse | First Mate / Steward |
| Danny Baily | Boat Captain |
| Jake Hicks | Picture Boat Driver |
| Henry Acosta | Oprah Winfrey Show Audience Whitney Houston Fan & Restaurant Customer (uncredited) |
| Zeiana Andrade | Young Woman #1 (uncredited) |
| Ashley Antonio | Young Fan (uncredited) |
| Mateo Philip Arnold | VIP Guest (uncredited) |
| Sylvia Barjolo | Girl #2 (uncredited) |
| James Barnes | Deacon (uncredited) |
| Tanner Beard | Günther (uncredited) |
| Robert L. Blauner | Reporter (uncredited) |
| Tom Bletsis | Arista VIP (uncredited) |
| Shey Bogumil | Concert Goer (uncredited) |
| David S. Bookbinder | Stagehand – Arista 15th Anniversary (uncredited) |
| Ronald Boone | Bodyguard (uncredited) |
| Peter Brownlee | VIP Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Froylan Cabuto | Red Carpet Paparazzi / Concert Goer (uncredited) |
| Courtney Caruso | Super Bowl Fan (uncredited) |
| Edwin Cherfils | Supper bowl commentator (uncredited) |
| Tracy Coffey | Super Bowl Fan (uncredited) |
| Timothy Connelly | AMA Awards Audience Member (uncredited) |
| Chanel Rose Connor | Detective (uncredited) |
| Cameen M Copeland | Bodyguard (uncredited) |
| Paul Corwin Jr. | NY Giant Football Player (uncredited) |
| Stevie Costa | Dinner Scene (uncredited) |
| Ashawn Dabney-Small | Birthday Guest (uncredited) |
| Kevin Daigneault | Stage Manager (uncredited) |
| Sunny Dennis | Sound Engineer (uncredited) |
| Brendan Edwards | Award Show Guest (uncredited) |
| Jennifer Ellis | Lisa Hintelmann (uncredited) |
| Vasilah Ellison | Patron (uncredited) |
| Michael Entin | Super Bowl Reporter (uncredited) |
| Jennifer Joan Fay | AMA Guest (uncredited) |
| James Gaiero | Desert Storm Soldier (uncredited) |
| Heidi Garza | Defiant Woman (uncredited) |
| Jasmin Gomes | Defiant Woman (uncredited) |
| Bhanu Gopal | Band Member / Super Bowl Fan / Audience Member (uncredited) |
| Christopher Gregoire | Clive Davis’ Butler (uncredited) |
| Josh Habib | Concert Goer / Volumetric Capture (uncredited) |
| Nicole Haftel | Fan / Teenager (uncredited) |
| Shane T Harris | Vip Guest (uncredited) |
| John T. Hillman | Arista Lobby Client (uncredited) |
| Laura Hubbard | Defiant Woman (uncredited) |
| Selina Hui | ‘I’m Every Woman’ Dancer (uncredited) |
| Ian Dylan Hunt | Clive’s Son – Event Camera Operator (uncredited) |
| Marcela Jaramillo | HS Counselor (uncredited) |
| Lorenzo Johnson | MC Hammer (uncredited) |
| Madison LaPlante | Featured Young Woman (uncredited) |
| Savanah Lee | (uncredited) |
| Rob Lévesque | Arista Executive (uncredited) |
| Brendan Manning | Super Bowl Fan (uncredited) |
| Markie Marchant | Gala Women (uncredited) |
| Kazina Maxine | NJ City Official / Super Bowl Fan / Chicago Concert Patron (uncredited) |
| Faye Mbo | Sweetwater VIP Member (uncredited) |
| James McDonough | Bartender at Sweetwater Club (uncredited) |
| Casey McNeal | Reporter (uncredited) |
| Joe Messina | Airport Traveler (uncredited) |
| Adrian M. Mompoint | Marvin (uncredited) |
| Alana Monteiro | Girl (uncredited) |
| Donna Ognibene | Flight Attendant (uncredited) |
| Peter Olejnik | Cameraman (uncredited) |
| Khalil Paige | Whitney Houston’s Bodyguard (uncredited) |
| Bre Palmer | Defiant Woman (uncredited) |
| Anthony Pelton | Police Officer (uncredited) |
| Kevin Pitcairn | South African Concertgoer (uncredited) |
| Rickland Powell | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) |
| Anne Reardon | Paparazza (uncredited) |
| Alexa Renée | Defiant Woman (uncredited) |
| Arida Rivera | VIP Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Johnny X Rook | Super Bowl XXV Participant (uncredited) |
| Kimberly Ryans | VIP Party Guest / Oprah Show Audience Member (uncredited) |
| Gerardo Saenz | Neighbor (uncredited) |
| Scott Sangster | News Producer (uncredited) |
| Mary Ann Schaub | VIP Studio Guest / Socialite (uncredited) |
| Rhonda Araujo Smith | Congregation Member (uncredited) |
| Sarah Snyder | Marching Band Member / Concert Goer (uncredited) |
| Matt Soscia | Super Bowl Fan (uncredited) |
| Richard Spink | Super Bowl Fan (uncredited) |
| Zachariah Supka | NY Giants Football Player (uncredited) |
| Marilyn Swick | Dinner Date Couple (uncredited) |
| Dustin Teuber | Camera Operator (uncredited) |
| Bobby Ray Thompson III | Basketball Player (uncredited) |
| Jordan Thompson | Audience Member (uncredited) |
| Justin M. Tolliver | Concert Fan (uncredited) |
| Ghia Truesdale | Music Awards Guest (uncredited) |
| Ilya Tsymbal | Orderly (uncredited) |
| Khai Tyler | Young Woman #3 (uncredited) |
| Tomm Voss | Copenhagen Stage Manager (uncredited) |
| Christopher Wyman | Super Bowl Honor Guard (uncredited) |
Trivia and Facts
- Naomi Ackie plays the role of Whitney Houston in the film.
- Stanley Tucci stars as Clive Davis.
- Ashton Sanders is cast as Bobby Brown.
- Among the supporting cast are Tamara Tunie as Cissy Houston, Nafessa Williams as Robyn Crawford, Clarke Peters as John Houston, and Daniel Washington as Gary Houston.
- Child performers Bailee Lopes and Bria Danielle Singleton portrayed Bobbi Kristina at different ages.
- The movie has garnered 1 win & 7 nominations in various awards.
- The film has been reviewed by 216 users and 127 critics.
Geo Location Details
- Location Name: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Latitude: 42.3600825
- Longitude: -71.0588801
- Place ID: ChIJGzE9DS1l44kRoOhiASS_fHg
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Boston, MA, USA
- Timezone: America/New_York
- Location Name: Arlington, Massachusetts, USA
- Latitude: 42.4153925
- Longitude: -71.1564729
- Place ID: ChIJ_RJa6UB244kRCPI23SYipkU
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Arlington, MA, USA
- Timezone: America/New_York
- Location Name: Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Latitude: 40.735657
- Longitude: -74.1723667
- Place ID: ChIJHQ6aMnBTwokRc-T-3CrcvOE
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Newark, NJ, USA
- Timezone: America/New_York
- Location Name: Tampa, Florida, USA
- Latitude: 27.9516896
- Longitude: -82.45875269999999
- Place ID: ChIJ4dG5s4K3wogRY7SWr4kTX6c
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Tampa, FL, USA
- Timezone: America/New_York
