Author Terry McMillan, in a recent interview with The Huffington Post, gave her thoughts on the “Waiting To Exhale” sequel and whether Oprah Winfrey would be playing Whitney Houston’s role (as rumored), when and if the story hits the big screen.
McMillan said “she’s thinking about the best way to proceed”.
Myself and [screenwriter] Lori Lakin Hutcherson wrote drafts for the film and then Whitney passed away. And so now the studio is trying to take a moment to think about how best to proceed. They’ve made it crystal clear that they want to proceed, but it’s just a matter of how.
I have mixed feelings about which way might be best to tell the story. I have critics who feel like they are casting directors, and they know more about what should happen. You have no idea. People have said that we should just kill off the Savannah character, or have her go get a job somewhere and move out of the state. I mean, all kinds of things. And then I have people who think they have in mind who should play Savannah. And right now I’m not in a position to be an advocate one way or the other, with the exception of the fact that it’s hard to imagine the story without the Savannah character in it.
Even though I know how other people may feel the opposite. I feel terrible about Whitney, just like everybody else, but there’s a part of me that also feels that she would want the film to go on. That’s just my gut feeling. And it has nothing to do with me not having an allegiance to her or respect for her. I just have a feeling that Whitney would love from heaven, to sit up there and watch who else can do the character.
What do you all think should happen to Whitney’s character Savannah? Sound off with your opinion, I’d like to know.
Conversations Of A Sistah 
Team Vivica Fox for the replacement
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Adriane: I think that Vivica is an excellent choice if they replace Whitney’s character
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I think Vivica Fox would be a good replacement….she has the attitude and the grace.
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I think Alfre Woodard would be awesome in that role!!
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I Alfre Woodard would be awesome in that role!!
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No offense but I think she’s too old for the role. I cosign Vivica
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I Alfre Woodard would be awesome in that role!!
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NOT!!!!
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Team Vivica all the way!
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Hey ladies:
I think Oprah would make a new good friend.
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No!!!!!!!!!! Oh Hell no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oprah in Whitney Houston’s role nope!!! that is not for her. Find someone else. please!!! I love Oprah, but not for that role. lol Why not get Jennifer Hudson!!! good role for her.
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No!!!!!!!!!! Oh Hell no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oprah in Whitney Houston’s role nope!!!
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Cosign. I def. don’t see Oprah in that role.
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I think Vivica is too plastic and botoxed now and has too many straight to DVD movies under her belt for a role like this.
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I think Vanessa Williams who was asked the first go around. She would make an excellent replacement.
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@Daisy,
Whitney should not have been in the film in the first place. Whitney’s role should have went to Angela Bassett and Angie’s role should have went to Vanessa Williams. That was the original plan until Whitney decided she wanted to act.
Actually, Terri wanted Angela to play Savannah. However, she refused to be a part of it if she couldn’t play Bernadine (Bernadette? Whomever.)
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Yeah @ Angel, that was the original plan until Whitney decided she wanted to act. I’m sorry Whitney died, but I’m glad she’s not in the sequel. Acting was not Whitney’s strong point imo.
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Lawd let Whitney Houston RIP and whatever Terry McMillan and THOSE decide, I hope it’ll do JUSTICE to the folm anyway.
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Personally, i think that they should allow the character to move away on a job assignment. killing the character off like some people suggest would be like reliving Whitney’s death all over again, instead of allowing her to rest in peace.
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Hi Ms. Bell 🙂
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When I think of “Waiting To Exhale,” I can only see the ladies with Whitney and it makes me want to cry. I am upset that she died with cocaine in her system, but I’m still sad that she’s gone. Movies like this from my youth are reminders of that reality.
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I say: kill the character off!!!
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I say: kill the character off!!!
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But she wasn’t killed in the book (Getting to Happy) so that would seem odd. I would think that the upcoming movie would be based on that sequel and what happened to those women 15 years after Waiting to Exhale. What happens with Savannah is important in the story.
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OK Keisha, they can always write her out,friends do grow apart.
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I say: kill the character off!!!
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I agree…do it and get it over with.
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Keisha, imo the sequel book was horrible!
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I say: kill the character off!!!
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They can’t kill Savanah off. The book follows the script. The characters are in their 50’s now, so some of these younger actresses won’t work. They need somebody older but who looks good and savy.
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I cannot see anyone else playing the role of Savannah just like I wouldnt want anyone else playing Whitneys role in a sequel to the bodyguard.
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Kill Savanah off. Don’t replace her. Please. Add another friend but don’t replace Savanah.
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As far as Whitney’s character is concerned, my vote is to write her funeral into the plot and thats where they can introduce the new character, her cousin maybe, and she proceeds to bond with the other ladies.
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I do agree – you can’t replace Whitney as Savannah. She brought the character alive. I like your idea of her funeral as a plot tho.
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Maybe she can have Savannah’s character pass away or something. I’m not trying to be morbid I’m just saying…
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Hey Ceo Fam. it’s been looking kinda empty in here lately.
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Morning Yvonne :<
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morning my lady loves 🙂
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Morning Yvonne, Bobby, Flo and all others after me. 🙂 it’s almost Friday again.
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Morning
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good morning yvonne, bobby, flo, daisy and yes. ha y’all doin this morning????
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wassup yall
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Hey erbody
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Ello people
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I guess we’ll have to wait and see what they do. right now it’s only talk.
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First I wanna say: Terry looks good! Go gurl!!!!
I would watch the Movie without Nippy. May she RIP !!!
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Ebony: I love, love, love her hair!
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I don’t think she’ll ever age.
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Terry McMillan is truly one crazy BITCH!!! She is all about the money. The first waiting to exhale was not good at all, so who in the hell asked for a sequel? Even if Whitney was still alive Terry would not put her in the movie.
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if she gave a damn she would kill Whitney off in the story..but watch they recast the part to somebody else..all this woe is me mess is just her trying to drum up some publicity off Nippy’s name. I mean they called off the Loretta Devine character in the book so whats so hard with making Loretta live and boring ass Nippy die.
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Please STHU!!!!
Sounds like you got your facts mixed up any damn way. Whitney did well acting where da hell you performing at these dayz besides your local walmart?
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Damn the movie will not be the same without Whitney.
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No hate, but she got work done.
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Go Terry! Do the damn thing!!! I would love to see a sequel however they decide to spin Whitney’s character. As long as they do her character dignified and with some Grace & Justice!!!
Peace People 🙂
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What do you all think should happen to Whitney’s character Savannah? Sound off with your opinion, I’d like to know
Mm… well Ms. Bell this is a hard one. I didn’t know Terry was even considering a *Waiting to Exhale* sequel? I say replace Whitney if all the characters are real and alive in real life, she can’t kill her GF off just because the actress who played her died. Wouldn’t make sense or keep it a reality.
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good point.
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