According to reports in the UK's Daily Mail, Heather Headley has been confirmed to star in the Whitney Houston role, with stage and TV actor Lloyd Owen "about to sign on in the role Kevin Costner played on screen."

Thea Sharrock is to direct, and the producers are David Ian and Michael Harrison.

Tony winner Heather Headley (for Broadway's Aida and who also created the role of Nala in The Lion King) told the Mail, "The soundtrack of the film was the soundtrack to my prom. I remember seeing the movie and going: 'I want to be her.' She helped give me my voice. I would sing along to those songs but I was scared about singing them in a show. But it’s like Barbra Streisand portraying Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. When people play that part again they’re not playing Barbra — they’re playing Fanny Brice. But because Streisand created the role she’s forever associated with it. Then I realised: I'm not playing Whitney Houston — I'm playing Rachel Marron. It’s not about  Whitney’s life, but she was the connection."

No further details have been released yet.