Don’t worry, the name threw us off too.
Black actresses all around Hollywood are salivating at the chance to play the late Whitney Houston in a new biopic of the singer’s life. Some have been more vocal than others, but it turns out movie executives aren’t opposed to casting Little Miss Sunshine.
Related: Dearest Whitney: An Open Letter From Cissy Houston
According to Daily Mail, Rihanna is one of the names on the shortlist of actresses being tapped for the role. Jennifer Hudson, Vivica A. Fox and Jordin Sparks are reportedly also in the running to play the iconic Houston.
But the Bajan beauty might not even be interested. When approached to remake The Bodyguard last year, she turned the part down telling OK! magazine:
“I hate it when singers do singing movies all the time, because you can never look at them as anybody else. I want to play a character. My whole life is playing Rihanna; being a singer won’t be a stretch for me.”
The 24-year-old singer will make her acting debut in Battleship which is set to hit theaters May 18.
Houston was said to be aware and excited for the film before her untimely death and her boss/close friend Clive Davis is at the head of the project.