Whitney Houston Wanted Aaliyah to Play ‘Sparkle’ Role: 5 Shocking Celebrity Deaths

Fans of the classic Sparkle film got a sweet surprise in 2011, when it was announced that a long-awaited remake for the film was going into production. Though the remake, which is loosely based around the story of the Supremes, will star pop singer Jordin Sparks in the title role, cast member Whitney Houston, who also has production credits for the film, recently spoke with “Access Hollywood” about her original vision for the movie and shared that she wanted Aaliyah to play the film’s leading lady.

“This was [Aaliyah’s] movie, when we brought it to her, she was so enthusiastic about it and she wanted to do it so badly. She was our Sparkle,” said Houston, who was attached to the failed 2001 Warner Bros. remake of the film.

As Houston explains, after Aaliyah’s death in 2001, plans to continue the original remake were scrapped.

“Unfortunately… it just didn’t go that way. I put it down. I said, ‘My Sparkle has gone to a better place,’ then we just left it alone,” said Houston.

However, in 2011 Sony Pictures began talks with Houstonto start work on a new remake and though the film won’t star her original “Sparkle,”  Houston says that the she adores the new remake.

“Everyone’s gonna love this film, I do. I think it’s gonna be a loved film,” said Houston

Aaliyah’s death isn’t the only one that seemingly left a hole in the entertainment industry. Here are five other tragic celebrity deaths that shocked us all. –nicholas robinson