Sparkle tells the story of a 19-year-old innocent young woman growing up in late 1960′s Detroit, who dreams of becoming a music star. Sparkle (Jordin Sparks), Sister (Carmen Ejogo) and Dee (Tika Sumpter) are sisters who love each other fiercely, but each have their own ambitions. When they form a girl group and set out to take the music world by storm, the harsh realities of the spotlight take their toll on the girls and threaten to tear apart the tight knit family, which also includes their less than supportive mother (Whitney Houston). The film also stars Derek Luke, Mike Epps, Omari Hardwick and CeeLo Green.

At the film’s press day, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks talked about the pressures she put on herself with this lead acting role, her audition process for the film, what Whitney Houston did to alleviate her nerves over working with her, whether Whitney Houston or Simon Cowell was scarier to work with, how she found her own voice in this crazy business, getting to dress up in all of the film’s wardrobe, what she thought of the original 1976 movie, how her biggest challenge in the film was the kissing scene she had with Derek Luke, and what she learned about herself, during shooting. Check out what she had to say after the jump.

Set in the motown-era of Detroit, Sparkle tells the story of a singing family of girls trying to make it big whilst facing the hurdles that success can bring.  Jordin Sparks plays the title character and is no stranger to sudden fame herself, having won season six of American Idol in 2007.  Back in November, I, along with a number of other journalists, visited the set of the film and we spoke to the cast and crew as well as watched a scene being filmed.  As evidenced by the movie poster, the film’s tone is definitely grittier, and more on par with Dreamgirls than Hairspray.

On set, we chatted with Jordin about how she got involved in the project, how she prepared for the role, and her excitement about the songs they’re bringing back from the original as well as the new ones R. Kelly has penned.  She gushes over working with her idol Whitney Houston and remarks how truly funny she was on set. Hit the jump for the full interview and here’s my set visit.

It was just in November when I traveled out to Detroit for a day on the set of Sparkle, Whitney Houston’s posthumous film about music, growing up in church, and finding your way.  A remake of the 70’s movie, it is set at the height of the civil rights movement and Motown boom in Detroit, and chronicles a family whose daughters form a singing group—modeled after The Supremes—and their journey to find success in uncertain times.   It is apparent that those in charge are dedicated to making the film authentic and successful. American Idol winner Jordin Sparks plays the title character Sparkle, the dark horse in the singing group.  Houston, in her anticipated return to the screen, stars as the girls’ mother.  Though the plot may feel familiar, after having talked extensively with the cast and crew, it is clear that there is a personality to this story.  The film is rooted in family values, and has an elevated, sophisticated tone.  More after the jump.

The first trailer for the remake of Sparkle has gone online. The story was inspired by the legendary female singing group The Supremes and stars Jordin Sparks, Tika Sumpter, and Carmen Ejogo as three sisters who start out singing at their local church, and go on to find great success—and troubles—as a Motown girl group. The film also sadly marks the final onscreen performance of Whitney Houston, as she plays the single mother of Sparks’ lead character. The period and Motown setting is ripe with possibilities, but the songs in this trailer seem a bit too modern to fit. This probably has something to do with the fact that R. Kelly wrote original songs for the film, but the story does show promise so I’ll hold off judgment until we’ve seen more.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. The film also stars Derek Luke, Mike Epps, Cee-Lo Green, and Omari Hardwick. Sparkle opens on August 17th.

A few new images from the remake of Sparkle have gone online. The story was inspired by the legendary female singing group The Supremes and stars Jordin Sparks, Tika Sumpter, and Carmen Ejogo as three sisters who start out singing at their local church, and go on to find great success—and troubles—as a Motown girl group. The film sadly marks the first and last film role for Whitney Houston since 1996’s The Preacher’s Wife. Collider was able to spend some time on the film’s set, and you can read or listen to our interview with Houston and producer Debra Martin Chase here.

Hit the jump to see the new images. Derek Luke, Mike Epps, Cee-Lo Green, and Omari Hardwick also star. Salim Akil (Jumping the Broom) is directing and R. Kelly wrote new original songs to add to the Curtis Mayfield score from the original. Sparkle will be released in theaters on August 10.

We noticed that the first image from Sparkle popped up recently—since this is the first film still of Whitney Houston since 1996′s The Preacher’s Wife, we wanted to get it up on the site this weekend.  Sparkle is a remake of the 1976 movie of the same name inspired by The Supremes.  Jordin Sparks, Tika Sumpter, and Carmen Ejogo star as three sisters start out singing at their local church, and go on to find great success (and the troubles that come with it) as a Motown girl group.

Derek Luke, Mike Epps, Cee-Lo Green, and Omari Hardwick also star; Salim Akil (Jumping the Broom) is directing.  R. Kelly wrote new original songs to add to the Curtis Mayfield score from the original.  Sparkle is set for release on August 10.  See the image after the jump.

With Warner Bros.’ musical remake A Star Is Born getting pushed back indefinitely due to Beyoncé’s pregnancy, Sony Pictures is jumping all over the chance to put out its own music-centric redo. Variety reports that Whitney Houston is in talks to join both Mike Epps (The Hangover) and American Idol-winner Jordin Sparks in the studio’s remake of the 1976 music drama Sparkle. Salim Akil (Jumping the Broom) will direct the pic from a screenplay by his wife, Mara Brock Akil (writer/producer for ABC’s Cougar Town).

For those unfamiliar with the original, it was co-written by Joel Schumacher and followed the rise of an all-sister trio whose success wreaks havoc on their personal lives in the late 1950s. Per the report, Akil’s remake will be set during Motown’s rise in 1968 Detroit and will focus on the youngest of three sisters, a musically gifted youngster named Sparkle (Sparks) whose rise to fame is spattered with familial troubles. There is no word on which roles Epps and potentially Houston will be taking on but, with production on the remake set to begin next month, my guess is that more details will be available shortly.