( CNN ) -- The remake of the movie `` Sparkle '' seemed tailor-made for Whitney Houston . After years largely in the shadows , the 48-year-old singer took on a part that seemed to have parallels to real life . The story , a remake of the 1976 film of the same name , is loosely based on The Supremes , and follows three sisters who have to face the difficulties that come along with fame as their singing careers take off . The movie currently is in post-production for release late this summer . `` American Idol '' winner Jordin Sparks portrays the title character , Sparkle , one of three sisters , and Houston plays their mother . `` When she ( Houston ) walked out there and began to perform , we were all just stunned at how well she did , not only with the singing but also with the acting as well , '' Bishop T.D . Jakes , who produced the movie , told CNN 's Soledad O'Brien on Thursday . Jakes -- who will attend Houston 's funeral on Saturday , a week after she was found dead at a Beverly Hills , California , hotel -- recalled being drawn to the script . `` I saw the original 'Sparkle ' and loved it , '' he said . `` It spoke to hope and the resilience of the human spirit in the midst of the decadence of life . '' He told CNN of the `` synergy '' between Houston and Sparks on and off the set , with Houston serving as a mentor . In the movie , Houston , who had a daughter of her own , plays a mother who had reached the apex of her career and had settled down to singing in her church , Jakes said . Sparkle is in the choir , poised to make her own move toward the big time . `` There is some interesting parallels between the script and the lives of the two women , '' Jakes said . Houston , who helped produced the film , chose to sing `` His Eye Is on the Sparrow , '' leaving everyone on the set teary-eyed , the pastor said . `` Sparkle '' is scheduled to hit the big screen on August 17 , according to Sony Pictures Entertainment . Industry observers are waiting to see how `` Sparkle '' fares , perhaps in comparison to `` This Is It , '' the documentary film that showed Michael Jackson preparing for a series of London concerts . The film was released after Jackson died in June 2009 . According to the website Box Office Mojo , the 2009 release of `` This Is It '' performed well at the box office for its genre . It ranked as the fourth highest-grossing Halloween debut on record , and grossed $ 34.4 million in five and a half days , according to the website . With `` Sparkle , '' Houston posthumously will showcase the talent that made her loved by millions since the 1980s . Her last film was 1996 's `` The Preacher 's Wife . '' To Jakes and others , the movie was going to help relaunch Houston 's career . `` We did not know that we would be left with the ( film ) , '' Jakes said . `` I think it 's a responsibility to hold in our hands her last cinematic production . '' CNN 's JD Cargill and Nischelle Turner contributed to this report .
Whitney Houston took her first movie role in 15 years . The remake of `` Sparkle '' will be released later this summer . Producer T.D . Clark says the film is about a young girl who has to deal with an abusive father and a mother that doesn't know how to love her daughter. Jakes is attending Houston 's funeral in New Jersey on Saturday .