Way to heighten anticipation! New poster for Whitney Houston's final film Sparkle shows Jordin Sparks in a glittering scarlet gown
It was Whitney Houston's final film before her untimely death in February.
And with anticipation for Sparkle building, an appropriately dramatic poster has been released, featuring stunning full-length shot of Jordin Sparks.
Jordin, who plays the lead role of Sparkle Williams, an aspiring singer struggling to make it in the music industry, is seen standing under a spotlight, wearing a long glittering red dress.
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Dramatic: Jordin Sparks is seen wearing a full-length scarlet gown in the newly-released poster for her forthcoming movie, Sparkle
With her hair pulled back, falling in thick curls, Jordin looks every inch the superstar her character hopes to become.
The powerful shot is sure to heighten the buzz around the movie, which has naturally been at the centre of greater press attention since Whitney's tragic death.
Whitney plays Jordin's on-screen mother Emma, who fears that Sparkle will face the same disappointments she did on her own quest for stardom.
Following her dream: Jordin plays aspiring singer Sparkle Williams, who forms a group with her sisters in hopes of becoming a star
The movie is a remake of the 1976
film of the same name starring Aretha Franklin, which told the story of
three Harlem-born teenage sisters who become a girl group in the late
1950s.
The updated version is set in 1960s Detroit during the Motown era.
Musical prodigy Sparkle has to deal with the hardships of becoming a star and keeping her family together, while Houston plays her struggling mother Emma.
Final project: Whitney executive produced the film, which she fought to get made for 12 years
The film also stars Derek Luke, Mike Epps and The Voice judge Cee Lo Green.
Houston said while making the film: ‘Part of the fun of making this movie is definitely the costumes and the hairstyles. The movie is set in 1963, and we had a great wardrobe, hair and makeup person and I loved wearing the outfits.’
Jordin spoke highly of the diva to People magazine.
Looked healthy: The trailer for Sparkle showed star and executive producer Whitney Houston looking happy and healthy
She said: ‘She was so cool and very motherly toward me. If I ever looked like I needed something, here she came saying 'Are you okay?'
‘I sang her songs into a hairbrush when I was little. Now she's acting as my mum and scolding me. It was a dream come true.’
It is Sparks' début performance as an actress, and it was meant to be the role that relaunched Houston's career.
Taking a gamble: The film marks American Idol winner Jordin's debut movie appearance
The I Will Always Love You singer also served as executive producer of the movie, and fought for 12 years in order to get the film made.
It had been over 15 years since she starred in a Hollywood picture, the last silver screen appearance being in 1996 for The Preacher’s Wife.
Sparkle was Whitney's fourth and final feature film.
Poignant: In the trailer Whitney's character Emma is seen warning her daughter against making the same mistakes she did when she was trying to make it as a singer
It will be dedicated to the superstar, who died on February 11, 2012, three months after filming ended.
Houston's official cause of death, released last month by the Los Angeles County Coroner, reveals that Houston died as the result of accidental drowning and the combined effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine.
Also stars: Singer Cee Lo Green plays Black, the girls' opening act
Whitney sunk into the bathwater after suffering a massive heart attack caused in part by her prolonged drug abuse.
In the trailer for Sparkle Houston looks happy and healthy.
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