Whitney, a new documentary on the life and legacy of Whitney Houston, is now officially in the works with Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald -- who directed the Bob Marley documentary Marley -- and Houston's estate both on board.
The film will offer a "definitive look" at Houston's legacy, and will feature, "previously unreleased recordings, rare never-before-seen footage and live performances recorded by Houston at various stages her life, as well as original studio recordings and acapellas of some of the late singer’s greatest hits," according to Rolling Stone.
Houston's remarkable career spawned many magical moments and massive hit songs, earning her 25 GRAMMY nominations including six career GRAMMY wins. Perhaps her most well-known career highlight, however, was Houston's role in the film The Bodyguard and its record-breaking soundtrack, for which she won three GRAMMYs at the 36th GRAMMY Awards including Album Of The Year, plus Record Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance for her version of Dolly Parton's 1974 ballad "I Will Always Love You."
Macdonald detailed his angle on the project in a statement, saying, "I approached Whitney's life like a mystery story; why did someone with so much raw talent and beauty self-destruct so publicly and painfully? I was lucky enough to have the support of Pat Houston and the Whitney Houston estate in this quest. They entrusted me with the 'keys to the vault' while giving me complete freedom to follow the story wherever it went. At heart, Whitney is an intimate family story that reveals a new side to a woman that even her most die-hard fans never knew."
"To tell Whitney's story, you have to know her story," Patricia Houston, manager and executor of Houston's estate said in a statement. "We could not be more excited that Whitney's fans will have this authoritative and definitive documentary chronicling the full arc or her career and the scope of Whitney's entire life. This is an amazing retrospective that celebrates Whitney with never-before-seen footage and Kevin approaches her life with no blinders on. He captures all of Whitney's magic, and he does not ignore the hard times. This is a film that will truly thrill all who knew and loved her as a musician, actress, model and so much more."
The film is due out in theatres on July 6 via Roadside Attractions and Miramax.
