Yaya DeCosta was cast as the late Whitney Houston in the upcoming Lifetime biopic, which is set to be directed by Angela Bassett.
According to TVLine, who first learned the casting news, this will be DeCosta's biggest role to date, but she has seen her star on the rise after appearing in the critically acclaimed Lee Daniels' The Butler.
The actress has also appeared on several television shows including Ugly Betty, House, All My Children and she got her start in the third season of America's Next Top Model.
The biopic will follow Houston's life as she rose to stardom while also dealing with her consistently unstable relationship with singer Bobby Brown.
As previously reported, Lifetime tapped Bassett to direct the biopic in late May, which will air in 2015. The TV movie is currently titled Whitney Houston, but that will likely change.
Bassett, who knew the late "I Will Always Love You" singer said in a statement, "I have such regard for both Whitney's and Bobby's amazing talents and accomplishments; and I feel a responsibility in the telling of their story."
The script was written by Shem Bitterman and Larry Sanitsky is on board to executive produce the TV feature.
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