Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston to "Sparkle" On Screen This Summer

By Adam Hetrick
05 Jan 2012

Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

"American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks will be seeing opposite Grammy winner Whitney Houston in the film remake of the 1976 musical film "Sparkle."

Inspired by the story of the girl group the Supremes (also reminiscent of the hit Dreamgirls), "Sparkle" originally hit screens in 1976 with Irene Cara in the title role.

Sparks, who also appeared on Broadway in In the Heights, will take on the titular role, with Houston as her gospel-singing mother. The cast also features Mike Epps.

Salim Akil is directing the film for Sony TriStar, which has a screenplay by Mara Brock Akil. "Sparkle" is aiming for an Aug. 10 release, according to Variety.