ANGELA BASSETT TO DIRECT LIFETIME ORIGINAL MOVIE "WHITNEY HOUSTON"

Film Helmed by Golden Globe(R) Winner and Oscar(R) Nominee to Tell the Love Story of Legendary Icon and Bobby Brown

LOS ANGELES (May 22, 2014) - Golden Globe(R) Award winner and Academy Award(R) nominee Angela Bassett will make her directorial debut with the Lifetime Original Movie Whitney Houston (wt).

Scheduled for a 2015 world premiere, Whitney Houston chronicles the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model, and singer, songwriter Bobby Brown -- from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity, to their courtship and tumultuous marriage. Throughout it all, difficulties followed the superstar couple while they dealt with the overwhelming rewards and consequences of the fame and fortune created by Whitney's meteoric rise that would soon overshadow them both.

"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," said Bassett. "Their humanity and bond fascinates us all. I'm beyond excited to have this opportunity to go behind the camera and into their world."

Produced by The Sanitsky Company, Whitney Houston will be executive produced by Larry Sanitsky (Betty & Coretta). Shem Bitterman (Betty & Coretta) wrote the film's script.

Last year, Bassett and Lifetime worked together on the critically-acclaimed original movie Betty & Coretta. Starring Bassett and Mary J. Blige, the Humanitas Prize finalist tells the dual real-life stories of Coretta Scott King (Bassett) and Dr. Betty Shabazz (Blige), wives of Dr. Martin Luther King (Malik Yoba) and Malcolm X (Lindsay Owen Pierre), who formed an unbreakable life-long bond between each other after their husbands' tragic assassinations. Bassett's performance received a 2014 SAG Award(R) nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries, as well as an NAACP Image Award nod for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special. The film also generated two additional Image Award nominations, including Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special and Yoba for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.

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Lifetime is a premier female-focused entertainment destination dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning scripted series, non-fiction series and movies. As a result of the network's aggressive programming strategy that has doubled the hours of its original programming, 2013 marked Lifetime's second straight year of growth among Total Viewers. Lifetime Television(R), LMN(R), Lifetime Real Women(R) and Lifetime Digital(TM) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.