Directed by Kasi Lemmons (Harriet) from a script by Bohemian Rhapsody screenwriter Anthony McCarten, the new authorised biopic is being produced by music icon and executive Clive Davis, who first discovered Houston.

In an interview with People, Lemmons said that Ackie had done a “phenomenal” job of portraying Houston’s spirit and artistry.

“She completely inhabits the character of Whitney. She put in a year of rigorous preparation so that her transformation on screen displays effortless virtuosity and is utterly believable,” she explained.

“Audiences will get to experience the greatest voice of her generation, singing her most iconic hits, both in the studio and in concert. They’ll see how she created that work, to better understand and appreciate her artistic process and singular creative genius. Her fans will love reliving the music while getting an intimate look at the woman behind The Voice. We’ll all be reminded how lucky we were to have Whitney with us for the time we did.”

I Wanna Dance With Somebody: the powerful first trailer for Naomi Ackie’s Whitney Houston biopic has landed