Here's your first look at the actress taking on Whitney Houston in the upcoming biopic

Following the success of Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman, a Whitney Houston biopic is on the way.

And now we've finally had our first look at the highly-anticipated film, I Wanna Dance with Somebody.

This week, Sony Pictures unveiled a poster for the upcoming biopic which shows British actress Naomi Ackie in the role of the legendary singer.

In the image, the 29-year-old can be seen dressed in a black leather jacket, a white t-shirt and jeans — a signature ensemble for Houston — while posing with her arms spread wide and head tilted back.

An array of flashing lights are seen behind Ackie, symbolising Houston's undeniable stardom.

Ackie won a Bafta TV Award last year for her performance in the series The End of the F***ing World.

She has also appeared in Doctor Who and played Jannah in the 2019 film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The film - which the late singer's estate has given its support to - has been written by Bohemian Rhapsody screenwriter Anthony McCarten and is directed by Stella Meghie.

Houston's sister-in-law and former manager Pat Houston will be producing the film on behalf of the Houston Estate along with music producer Clive Davis.

READ MORE:
• Whitney Houston's EPIC dance cover of Steve Winwood’s 'Higher Love' has just been released!
• Whitney Houston's autopsy has just been released revealing she had lost 11 of her front teeth

McCarten has vowed to "authentically" tell the late singer's story, following her death in 2012 aged 48, saying in a statement: "We are incredibly lucky to have the support and input of many of the key people who knew Whitney the best and who were there at the time, in the making of this film.

"I am working closely with all of them, to authentically tell the extraordinary story of a peerless talent, taken from us too soon."

Over the course of a musical career spanning more than 30 years, the songstress sold more than 200 million records worldwide and won six Grammys, 16 Billboard Music Awards, and two Emmys.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody is set to be released on December 21, 2022.