Columbia Pictures

This week: Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones return as Agents J and K, respectively, in "Men in Black 3." In this long-awaited time-traveling sequel we meet a young Agent K, played to perfection by Josh Brolin.

Also new this week is the Prohibition drama "Lawless," Whitney Houston's last performance in "Sparkle," the spooky stop-motion animated feature "ParaNorman," and the modern-dance showcase "Step Up Revolution."

'Men in Black 3'

Sony

Box Office: $179 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 69% Fresh
Storyline: Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back as the titular sharp-dressed men regulating alien activity on Earth, but this time J must travel back in time to the '60s and help a young K (Josh Brolin) prevent a future cataclysm for his partner and the planet.
Extras! The Blu-ray has fun exclusives like the "Spot the Alien Game" and "The Evolution of Cool: 'MIB' 1960s vs. Today." The Blu-ray 3D has even more bonus features, like "The Case of Boris the Animal: the 3D Models of 'MIB 3'" and a featurette on how the movie was converted to 3D.
We Say: After the uneven tone of 2002's "Men in Black II," which went too far in the comedy direction, Brolin's spot-on impersonation of a young Jones breathes new life into the sci-fi series. No one will hand out awards for a movie like this, but Brolin is that good and his on-screen chemistry with Smith makes this time-traveling sequel a trippy treat.

'Lawless'

The Weinstein Company

Box Office: $37 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 67% Fresh
Storyline: The latest collaboration between director John Hillcoat and screenwriter-composer Nick Cave is based on the true story of the Bondurant boys (Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy and Jason Clarke) who operated a bootlegging operation in Franklin County, Virginia toward the end of Prohibition. Complicating matters for the popular outlaws are a deadly gangster (Gary Oldman) and a corrupt special deputy (Guy Pearce) who wants to squash them and their moonshine business.
Extras! The best extras on the DVD and Blu-ray are the ones that give you some background information on the real story, including "The True Story of the Wettest County in the World," "Franklin County, VA: Then and Now," and "The Story of the Bondurant Family."
We Say: This gritty, violent drama about outlaws who became heroes features some outstanding performances, particularly Pearce with his severely parted hair that speaks volumes about his character's mental state. Hardy, per usual, still speaks as if he has a mouthful of marbles and peanut butter, but that actually works in his favor for playing a mountain-dwelling moonshiner. It's also refreshing to see a post-Michael Bay LaBeouf fight adversaries that aren't giant robots from outer space.

'Sparkle'

Sony

Box Office: $24 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 58% Rotten
Storyline: This musical drama is a love letter to old Motown and stars Jordin Sparks as the titular singer who is struggling to become a star while trying to overcome issues that are tearing her family apart. Whitney Houston stars as Sparkle's mother, Derek Luke plays Sparkle's music manager/love interest and Carmen Ejogo and Tika Sumpter play Sparkle's sisters who try to become a Supremes-like sensation of the Motown era.
Extras! Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain "A Tribute to Whitney Houston"; the Blu-ray adds exclusives like the music video "Celebrate" with Houston and Sparks and an extended performance of "Hooked on Your Love."
We Say: "Sparkle" is notable for featuring the last performance of Houston before her untimely death but, aside from that, it's an underwhelming, cliché-littered offering that steals bit and pieces from better movies like "Dreamgirls," "What's Love Got to Do with It" and others.

'ParaNorman'

Focus Features

Box Office: $56 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% Fresh
Storyline: This stop-motion animated feature from the makers of "Coraline" tells the story of Norman, a shunned little boy with the ability to see and speak with the dead who must use his talents to save his town from being destroyed by a centuries-old curse. Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Man, Jeff Garlin and John Goodman provide voices for the colorful characters.
Extras! Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D, "ParaNorman" includes such bonus features as seven making-of featurettes, preliminary animatic sequences, and a behind-the-scenes look at the stop-motion magic.
We Say: Although it's not as weirdly wonderful as "Coraline," this imaginative PG-rated spook show tests the limits of scariness for children's movies and has enough references to the ghosts of pop culture past to keep adults interested.

'Step Up Revolution'

Summit

Box Office: $35 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 43% Rotten
Storyline: The latest "Step Up" sequel moves the cutting-edge flash-dancing "Mob" to Miami where a local businessman threatens to develop the Mob's historic neighborhood and displace thousands of people. An aspiring professional dancer (Kathryn McCormick) and a dance-crew leader (Ryan Guzman) team up to turn their performance art into protest art.
Extras! Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D, "Step Up Revolution" has choreography featurettes, dance sequences, deleted scenes and music videos from artists like J. Lo and Timbaland.
We Say: The two leads are an MMA fighter and a "So You Think You Can Dance" survivor, so dispense any thoughts of this having a chance to be a compelling drama with nuanced performances. If all you're looking for is some kinetic modern-dance numbers, put on your 3D glasses and let the Mob shimmy right out of your TV screen.

Also New This Week:

"The Apparition"
"6 Degrees of Hell"
"The Day"

In the new movie "Sparkle," Whitney Houston played the tough matriarch, Emma, to a family of sisters destined for stardom. Even though Emma wasn't always kind to Jordin Sparks' character, the "American Idol" winner loved every minute she got to work with the late legend.

"It was so crazy because I'd be on set and she'd be scolding me or having to give me a look or whatever," Sparks told MTV's "10 on Top" in an exclusive interview. "I'm just thinking in my head, 'This is the best thing ever. Do you guys see this? This is so crazy.'"

Listening to Houston sing on the set of "Sparkle" was also an emotional experience for Sparks.

"As soon as she opened her mouth, like balling. I just had tears the entire time," she confessed. "We shot for, what, three or four hours, and I could not stop crying the entire time."

Watch the video above for even more behind-the-scenes info on "Sparkle" and its star, including how Sparks reacted to getting the part, what it was like to wear clothes from the 1960s and which other movie remakes Sparks would love to star in. And be sure to check out "10 on Top" on MTV every Saturday at 11:30 a.m. E.T.

Lionsgate

"The Expendables 2" took no prisoners this weekend as according to Film.com, the oldest gang of ass-kickers ever assembled brought in $28.8 million to earn the top spot at the box office.

Of course, the other big new release of the weekend was the musical "Sparkle," which features the final performance from the late Whitney Houston. And the film did her legacy proud, earning $12 million for fifth on the chart. That was just two million less than "Sparkle's" entire production budget, meaning the film has almost broken even after just three days of release.

For a full run down of the box office figures, including totals for "The Bourne Legacy," "Paranorman" and "The Campaign," head to Film.com.

Also Check Out: 'The Expendables' Dance Party

"I think when you go back and watch that film, it's ironic that the same type of relationship issues she was dealing with, we're dealing with the same things over 50 years later, and I think that's really an interesting dynamic."

Terrence J can be seen alongside Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks in the new musical "Sparkle."

We all know that every family has their own problems, but when you have three sisters that become Motown sensations trying to handle their newfound fame, it's a whole other world of issues. Meet the Williams sisters Sparkle (Jordin Sparks), Dolores (Tika Sumpter) and Sister (Carmen Ejogo) and their single mother Emma (the late, great Whitney Houston).

"Sparkle" may be jam-packed with stars and huge voices, but it's also filled with the glamorous dresses and styles of the '60s that look so fabulous even today.

Check out the latest Get the Goods to see how that talented Williams family has inspired us to ring up quite the credit card bill.

Sony

All the focus on the upcoming big screen musical "Sparkle" has so far been on the late, great Whitney Houston, and for good reason considering this will be her final film appearance following her untimely death earlier this year.

But today there's a brand new trailer out that reminds the world that "Sparkle" has plenty of other stars in it as well and they are all ready to shine.

In other words, Cee Lo Green isn't just a man, he's the man.

At least, that's our takeaway from this new clip, which features no dialogue at all. Instead, the whole thing is basically a music video for Green's performance of the show-stopping tune "I'm A Man," as the soulful crooner belts out the track while images from the film zip past in montage form.

Don't worry, though, you'll also get a look at Houston, as well as headliner Jordin Sparks and the rest of the excellent cast. But it's Green standing in the spotlight this time around — and we wouldn't want it any other way.

"Sparkle" is set to hit theaters on August 17. Here's a look at the new trailer, courtesy of MTV:

Sony

In the three months since Whitney Houston's premature demise, fans and stars from around the world have paid tribute to the legendary diva online, in song and on the big screen. Now, though, the ultimate tribute to Houston's life has just been revealed — and it's by Whitney herself.

Are you ready to "Celebrate?"

Well, we certainly hope so, because that's the name of the brand new single from Houston's final project, the upcoming film "Sparkle," which is set to hit theaters in August.

And fittingly, "Celebrate!" is a duet between Houston and her "Sparkle" co-star, former "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks, who plays Houston's daughter in the movie.

So check it the audio track, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter. And listen to Houston's voice soar one final time.

There are a lot of things to avoid this summer: blistering sun, bug spray, sweating, sunburns, broken air conditioning, puka shell necklaces. Thankfully, heaven can be found indoors, in a movie theater, with functional air conditioning, popcorn and 90+ minutes of pure cinematic bliss.

This summer Hollywood is giving us a lot of "popcorn flicks" to look forward to: a "Spider-Man" reboot, "Men in Black III," a second "G.I. Joe" movie and "Battleship," to name a few. Among all of these big movies are 15 up-and-coming stars who will be heating up the summer. Some of these are people you've seen on TV, and some you've heard on the radio. All of them are quickly on the rise to silver-screen stardom.

Columbia Pictures / Warner Bros.

'Tis the season for massive explosions and people running from them.

Summer movies are coming, and iconic superheroes will dominate as "Dark Knight Rises," "Avengers," and "The Amazing Spider-Man" duke it out for box office supremacy, while the sci-fi derby includes fresh takes on the "Alien" saga ("Prometheus") and Philip K. Dick ("Total Recall"), plus a return visit to MIB headquarters.

Of course, it's not all grenades and gunshots. Just see a shirtless Tom Cruise in "Rock of Ages" and everythingless Channing Tatum in "Magic Mike" representing for the ladies this summer.

We count down the biggest and best blockbusters for beating the summer heat.

30. 'Battleship'

Universal

Release Date: May 18
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Rihanna
The Scoop: "John Carter" sank, but this feature version of the perennial Hasbro board game may be just the ticket to keep Taylor Kitsch's career afloat. The decision to go sci-fi with invading aliens as the heavies is clearly the filmmakers' attempt to capitalize on the success of "Transformers," but with costars Liam Neeson and singer Rihanna in tow, this could be one unsinkable "Battleship." | Watch the trailer

29. 'Bel Ami'

Magnolia Pictures

Release Date: June 8
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Ricci
The Scoop: R.Pattz is a beautiful friend indeed to the many lovely ladies in this 19th-century romp. The "Twilight" superstar plays Georges Duroy, a French libertine using his cunning and sexuality to broker his way from one powerful woman's bed to another. Based on the novel by Guy de Maupassant, this one's sure to get the more literary-minded audience's home fires burning. | Watch the trailer

28. 'Sparkle'

TriStar

Release Date: Aug 17
Starring: Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks, Derek Luke, Cee Lo Green
The Scoop: Whitney Houston's swan song is a remake of the 1970s cult classic, which she adored as a child. The late singer was set for a big-time comeback, including a soundtrack produced by R. Kelly, before her tragic death in February. Houston and "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks are "Giving Him Something He Can Feel," and audiences will be floored. | Watch the trailer

27. 'The Expendables 2'

Lionsgate

Release Date: Aug 17
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Scoop: A second helping of brawny, gun-totin' geezers was inevitable after the mighty $275 million haul their pyrotechnics brought in two years ago. Stallone has ceded the director's chair to Simon West ("Tomb Raider," "Con Air") but returns as writer and star, playing mercenary Barney Ross, who leads his team into a trap in which one of them gets whacked. They recruit new members Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth) and Maggie (Yu Nan) to get some of that sweet, tasty revenge we like so much. | Watch the trailer

26. 'What to Expect When You’re Expecting'

Liongate

Release Date: May 18
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick, Brooklyn Decker
The Scoop: The go-to chick flick of the summer is based on the classic baby manual and follows five couples as they navigate the ups, downs and hormones of pregnancy. Oh, and don't worry, guys, because Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Thomas Lennon, Rob Huebel and Matthew Morrison will be on hand for some much-needed bro time. | Watch the trailer

25. 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation'

Paramount

Release Date: June 29
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, Adrianne Palicki
The Scoop: Because one just wasn't enough. The Joes are back, but this time those Cobra scumbags have hatched a scheme to get their kung fu grip on the White House and eliminate America's last line of defense. Tatum returns as Duke, but it's Johnson as Roadblock and Willis as the original "Joe" who are running the show this time around. Did we mention ninjas swordfighting off a cliff face? POW! | Watch the trailer

24. 'People Like Us'

DreamWorks

Release Date: June 29
Starring: Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Pfeiffer, Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass, Jon Favreau
The Scoop: You might know the name Alex Kurtzman as one of the kings of franchise screenwriting with "Transformers," "Mission: Impossible" and "Star Trek" under his belt. Instead of making a splashy debut as a director, he wrote this grounded drama (along with partner Roberto Orci) about a man named Sam (Pine) who has to deliver $150,000 to a 30-year-old alcoholic sister he's never met. He encounters her troubled 12-year-old son and probably learns something about himself, too.

23. 'Katy Perry: Part of Me'

Getty Images

Release Date: July 5
Starring: Katy Perry
The Scoop: This concert documentary chronicles the life of the world's biggest female pop star, from her humble beginnings as a gospel singer to when she kissed a girl and liked it. If you really want to have fun, try hopping back and forth between the theater showing this film and another one showing ex-hubby Russell Brand's "Rock of Ages." | Watch the trailer

22. 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World'

Focus Features

Release Date: June 22
Starring: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Adam Brody, Derek Luke, Connie Britton
The Scoop: Here's a perfect 2012 comedy for the Mayan-minded. With an impending asteroid about to smush the Earth into a pancake, a man teams up with a neighbor to road-trip across an apocalyptic U.S. and reunite with his childhood sweetheart. We'd never have thought to cast Carell opposite Knightley, but that unlikely chemistry might just prove magical, especially given the unconventional nature of the script. | Watch the trailer

21. 'ParaNorman'

Focus Features

Release Date: Aug 17
Starring: (voices) Casey Affleck, Jeff Garlin, John Goodman, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
The Scoop: From the 3-D stop-motion geniuses at Laika -- the very patient animators who brought us "Coraline" -- comes this slab of spooky fun revolving around an outcast kid named Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who communicates with the dead to protect his sleepy New England town from a horde of ghosts, witches and zombies. The trailers are awesome, with some incredible puppet animation and a hilarious "Monster House" vibe to the story.

Also Check Out: Summer Movie Polls

20. 'Men in Black 3'

Columbia Pictures

Release Date: May 21
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Emma Thompson, Alice Eve
The Scoop: Call it cautious optimism, but despite some clunky-looking effects and tales of production woes (delays, unfinished scripts), we're still amped to see Will and Tommy back in black. With Josh Brolin doing a so-dead-on-it's-scary Tommy Lee Jones impersonation as a '60s-era Agent K, this will indeed be like walking into a time machine. | Watch the trailer

19. 'To Rome With Love'

Sony Pictures Classics

Release Date: June 22
Starring: Woody Allen, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penélope Cruz, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig, Ellen Page
The Scoop: Woody Allen made box office magic with last summer's "Midnight in Paris," so let's see if he can strike gold twice in a row. The Woodman continues his globetrotting (London, Barcelona, France) with this trip to the boot of Europe as famous Italians (Benigni) mix with American tourists (Baldwin, Eisenberg, Page) in four interconnected comedic vignettes. Throw in an Academy Award-winning Spaniard (Cruz) and Allen himself, and you've got yourself a heaping plate of laughs al dente.

18. 'Magic Mike'

Warner Bros.

Release Date: June 29
Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer
The Scoop: Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody ("Juno") remarked on an episode of "WTF with Marc Maron" that when she released her stripping memoir, it resulted in criticism and controversy, and she wondered if this film -- based on Channing Tatum's teen experiences takin' it all off in Tampa, Florida -- would bring the "21 Jump Street" star equal scorn. Only one way to find out, as Steven Soderbergh directs a beefcake wonderland eager to please. Tatum is, to put this tastefully, the Jedi stripping master, while Pettyfer is his Padawan disciple, and the ladies should look forward to some red-hot "lightsabers." | Watch the trailer

17. 'Moonrise Kingdom'

Focus Features

Release Date: May 25
Starring: Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman
The Scoop: With Ed Norton as a cigarette-smoking Boy Scout troop leader, Bruce Willis as a sheriff with translucent glasses and Bill Murray as a disenchanted father, this couldn't be anything but a standard-issue Wes Anderson affair. The director of "The Royal Tenenbaums" always has something delightfully eccentric up his corduroy sleeves, and his tale of two young kids in a runaway romance will not disappoint. | Watch the trailer

16. 'Rock of Ages'

Warner Bros.

Release Date: June 15
Starring: Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Akerman, Mary J. Blige, Alec Baldwin, Tom Cruise
The Scoop: Tom Cruise likes his old-time rock 'n' roll Bon Jovi-style as he belts out "Wanted Dead Or Alive." Word on the street is Cruise brings down the house, but for backup you've got pros Russell Brand and Mary J. Blige waiting in the wings to make sure this Broadway musical takes it to the next level. Adam Shankman ("Hairspray") directs. | Watch the trailer

Keep Reading: Top 30 Must-See Summer Movies of 2012 (15 - 1) >>

Sony

On February 11, we lost Whitney Houston, one of the great voices of the 20th century, but the "Bodyguard" star will take one final bow in the role she shot for the big razzle-dazzle remake of 1976 cult classic "Sparkle."

The 2012 version will hit theaters on August 17, but TriStar Pictures saw fit to debut some new footage from the trailer on "The Today Show" (via MSNBC), and just this small glimpse announces that her role as faded singer Emma will not only echo her own life struggles but could bring posthumous accolades to the most-awarded female singer of all-time.

Originally intended as a major comeback for the then 48-year-old Houston, who hadn't made a feature since 1996's "The Preacher's Wife," her character is a feisty, proper mother raising three daughters, including the Motown-inspired singing sensation of the title. Carmen Ejogo, Tika Sumpter, and lead Jordin Sparks all shine as the sexy trio, with Sparks in particular set to ascend from "American Idol" to WORLD idol.

Though it cuts off before we get a true taste of the original's showstopping "Giving Him Something He Can Feel," this early glimpse announces one thing loud and clear: Whitney is gonna deliver with this performance.

We can't wait to hear some of the new songs R. Kelly has cooked up alongside the Curtis Mayfield originals, and stay tuned for the full trailer!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Getty Images

Fans of Whitney Houston may be able to see recently deceased star again sooner than they might think, even without the benefit of a trip to the other side.

"Californication" star Meagan Good told E! Online that prior to Houston's death, she and the star were in discussions to have Good play the "I Will Always Love You" singer in a film adaptation of her life.

"We were fairly in the beginning stages," Good announced on Monday night. "We were supposed to meet today actually."

While the young actress may have the right combination of looks and acting talent to portray the pop icon, when it comes to the vocals, Good would never try to live up to Houston's standard.

"I don't think we've ever had a singer in history that I remember that could sing like her," said Good. "Plus, when people see someone's life story they want to hear that person's voice because they connect with it, in their spirit and their soul. So you would have to use her voice."

As for how the movie might change in light of Houston's tragic death earlier this month, Good hopes that the film will portray the star in a positive light as an entertainer and friend.

"For anybody spending time around Whitney, she's so much fun. She's got just like a sassy attitude and is very funny and funky," said Good. "My feeling is because she has the film 'Sparkle' coming out and she's brilliant in it and she looks beautiful and healthy, my feeling was that's how we should end the movie—as a new beginning for her."

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Sony

Fans watching the Grammys tonight can expect to see the first star studded tribute to the life and career of the late, legendary Whitney Houston, who shockingly passed away yesterday at the age of 48. But it won't be the last tribute to the prolific actress/singer, as The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Sony has decided to go ahead with the August 17 release of Houston's final movie, "Sparkle."

And we have a feeling nobody's ever belted out a swan song quite like Whitney Houston.

Based on the cult classic 1976 film of the same name, "Sparkle" stars former "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks as a pop singer whose girl group goes supernova, causing rifts in their personal relationships. Houston plays Sparks' mother, but she gets plenty of screen time herself, stealing the show with a solo number as well as a duet with Sparks during the end credits.

"Sparkle's" executive producer, Howard Rosenman, was stunned to hear the news of Houston's death.

"I was just raving about [Whitney's] performance, she was so great in it. I'm just in shock," Rosenman said, adding that the film "would have been a big, big comeback, she is so brilliant in it."

He was especially enthusiastic about the opportunity for Houston to show off her skills performing the new R. Kelly gospel track "Celebrate," which caps off the film by the husband and wife filmmaking duo Salim and Mara Akil.

"It's a great, great gospel song where she's just genius," Rosenman said. "Salim is a really talented director, and Mara wrote a fantastic screenplay, and we were really looking forward to [Whiney's] participation [in the movie's release]. It would have been her big comeback. It would have been unbelievable."

Sony representative Steve Elzer echoed those sentiments.

"Like all those who knew and loved her, we are shocked and saddened and the world has lost an incomparable talent," Elzer said. "Right now our thoughts are with her daughter, her family and her friends."

On August 17, "Sparkle" will give Houston one last chance to shine.

Getty Images

Good news, film fans: Sparkle has found her Stix.

Okay, so that sounds like either complete gibberish or a song title from an episode of "Jem," but it's actually the latest bit of hot movie news from Hollywood, as Deadline is reporting that Derek Luke is set to co-star as Stix opposite Jordin Sparks in the upcoming remake of the 1976 cult classic hit "Sparkle."

As you may recall, we reported last month that former "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks will by playing the lead role in "Sparkle," which tells the story of three sisters -- Sparkle, Sister and, um, Dolores -- who try to make it big in the world of singing only to face troubles that threaten to tear their family apart.

So where does Stix come in? Well, he's the friend who becomes Sparkle's manager -- and more, if you catch our drift -- only to face his own problems courtesy of the mob. It's a juicy role for Luke, who has been seen mostly on TV and in bit parts over the last few years following the success of "Antwone Fisher;" the role of Stix was originally played by a young Philip Michael Thomas, who went on to superstardom on "Miami Vice."

"Sparkle" is set to begin filming later this year for a 2012 release.

Getty Images

Jordin Sparks won't be stopping singing any time soon.

The "American Idol" winner will continue to show off her incredible singing voice in "Sparkle," a remake of the 1976 musical inspired by the story of the Supremes, according to Variety.

The original "Sparkle" told the story of the three Williams sisters, who went from singing in their church choir in 1950s Harlem to forming a popular girl group. Of course, their success destroys their personal lives.

The new "Sparkle" is set in 1968 Detroit, when Motown was on the rise. The musical will focus on the youngest sister (Sparks) and her struggle to become a star while dealing with issues that are tearing her family apart.

Whitney Houston is in talks to play Sparks' not-so-supportive mother, and Mike Epps is on board as a stand-up comedian who marries one of Sparks' sisters and gets her hooked on drugs.

"Sparkle" marks the acting debut of Jordin Sparks, who won the sixth season of "American Idol" at age 17, making her the youngest "Idol" winner to date. Her single, "No Air," is currently the highest-selling single by any "Idol" contestant.

We know Sparks has the pipes... and we have a feeling she's got the chops, too.