Whitney Houston Fans React to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Writer Being Hired for Her Biopic

Lifetime previously released a Whitney Houston biopic that wasn’t approved by her family. Now there is another one in the works that has the backing of her estate. However, the fact that Bohemian Rhapsody writer, Anthony McCarten has people talking for multiple reasons.

There is a Whitney Houston biopic in the works approved by her estate

There is currently a biopic about the music legend in the works tentatively called I Wanna Dance With Somebody. The producers released a statement according to Vulture and claimed it will be “a joyous, emotional and heart-breaking celebration of the life and music of the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.”

Stella Meghie, who directed The Photograph, is set to direct the movie. Pat Houston is producing with Clive Davis, Primary Wave Music’s Larry Mestel, Denis O’Sullivan and Anthony McCarten.

Davis discovered the singer when she was a teenager and helped launch her music career. The writer of the project recently worked on a music biopic that received controversy.

Anthony McCarten was hired to write it

Anthony McCarten was hired to write the biopic, according to Vulture. He previously wrote The Theory Of Everything, Darkest Hour and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Bohemian Rhapsody focused on the life of Freddie Mercury of the rock band Queen. Rami Malek won an Oscar for best actor in a leading role. The movie also won for film editing, sound editing, and sound mixing.

There was some controversy around the movie. The film was criticized for how it handled Mercury’s sexuality with the lead singer saying he thought he was bisexual only for his fiancée to tell him he’s gay in a scene.

This could certainly be a challenge for the writer once again given Houston’s sexuality has made headlines recently. Robyn Crawford released a book claiming she had a romantic relationship with the singer.

McCarten said in the statement, “We are incredibly lucky to have the support and input of many of the key people who knew Whitney the best and who were there at the time, in the making of this film. I am working closely with all of them, to authentically tell the extraordinary story of a peerless talent, taken from us too soon.”

Davis claimed in a statement that the movie will have a “no holds barred, musically rich screenplay that finally reveals the whole Whitney,” according to The Guardian.

Some fans aren’t happy with the writer announcement

The announcement has many fans talking online. McCarten being set to write the story has people worried.

“I mean I like Bohemian Rhapsody and think Malik was perfect as Freddie… but it has been stated umpteen times that the film itself wasn’t wholly accurate. Maybe get a different writer,” tweeted one fan. Another fan tweeted, “Aw, so they’ll tone down her sexuality too.”

The news also sparked conversation about the choice to not hire someone black or a woman to tell the legend’s story. “There are a lot of available Black screenwriters for the Whitney Houston biopic,” one person tweeted.

There has yet to be any cast announcements for the project. Time will tell how the project will handle the legend’s story.