(Aug. 21, 2003) *Disney's "That's So Raven" star, Raven as in Raven Symone, has beat out Ashanti for the lead role in the Warner Brothers remake of "Sparkle."
The 17-year-old actress/singer will walk in big shoes when she plays the youngest sister in the the new version of the 1976 drama about a Supremes-like group of singing sisters. The role was originally played by Irene Cara.
For those that remember, the singing siblings initially encounter success, but that's when the drama began. And for that reason alone, only a strong actress/actress would qualify. Sorry Ashanti. Not this time.
The new version will keep the Curtis Mayfield penned songs from the original and Raven, who has just completed an album for Disney, will do her own singing in the film.
On another note, Michael Elliot, from "Like Mike," has been brought in to rewrite the script written by E. Lynn Harris
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