Cee Lo Green Nabs Starring Role in Remake of ‘Sparkle’
Singer Cee Lo Green has racked up a nice range of TV credits, from voice work in the short-lived animated series ‘The Boondocks,’ playing himself in a ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch and, of course, serving as a coach on ‘The Voice.’
His list of big-screen achievements isn’t quite as long, but Green has just added a noteworthy one: a role in a remake of the 1976 film ‘Sparkle.’
Variety reports that Green will play an up-and-coming singer who is the opener for a girl group consisting of three sisters. ‘American Idol’ alum Jordin Sparks has signed on for the title role, and it’s believed that Whitney Houston will portray her mother.
The soundtrack to the original ‘Sparkle,’ which was set in late-1950s New York, had songs written by the late R&B legend Curtis Mayfield that were performed by Aretha Franklin. This time around, ‘Sparkle’ will take place in late-1960s Detroit, with R. Kelly handling the music.