Plus: first look at the actor playing Amy
Last summer, Deadline broke the news that an Amy Winehouse biopic was in the works, chronicling the life of the Grammy award winning singer who tragically died in 2011. With Sam Taylor-Johnson directing, here’s everything we know about Back To Black so far.
Amy Winehouse Biopic: Everything We Know About Back To Black So Far
Back To Black: Who Is Involved?
In July 2022, Deadline revealed that Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy, Fifty Shades of Grey) would be directing an upcoming biopic of Amy Winehouse, which Hollywood had spent years ‘working on getting […] off the ground’. The script was written by Matt Greenhalgh, with Focus Features distributing and Studiocanal producing with Alison Owen and Debra Hayward alongside Tracey Seaward.
British actor Marisa Abela is the first confirmed actor in Back To Black, who will be playing Winehouse. On 13 January 2023, Studiocanal UK tweeted: ‘One of music’s greatest artists, Amy Winehouse, comes to the big screen in Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Back to Black. With cameras rolling from next week, we’re thrilled to release this first look at rising star Marisa Abela as Amy.’
One of music’s greatest artists, Amy Winehouse, comes to the big screen in Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Back to Black. With cameras rolling from next week, we’re thrilled to release this first look at rising star Marisa Abela as Amy. pic.twitter.com/owZGXwOWP3
— StudiocanalUK (@StudiocanalUK) January 13, 2023
Abela is known for her roles in the TV series Industry and COBRA. In 2023, she will also star in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. Taking to Instagram, Abela acknowledged the announcement of her role as Winehouse with a series of images, including one of her standing in front of a large street art mural of Winehouse and another showing her wearing Winehouse’s signature jewellery, including chunky hoop earrings, a necklace reading ‘Amy Jade’, and a Monroe (upper lip) piercing.
‘”And for London. This is for London,'” Abela wrote, quoting Winehouse. ‘”Cause Camden Town ain’t burnin down”. I love you, Amy.’
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The news of Back To Black follows the 2015 documentary film Amy, which was directed by Adif Kapadia and produced by James Gay-Rees, and premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. The film received critical acclaim and accolades such as the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, the Best Music Film at the 2016 Grammy Awards, and the BAFTA award for Best Documentary. Rumours of a biopic have circulated since 2018, alongside rumours of a West End/Broadway musical about Amy, which her father Mitch hinted at in 2017.
What Will Back To Black Be About?
Though few details have been confirmed, it is expected that Back To Black will chronicle the life and music of Winehouse, the British, Grammy-award winning jazz singer famous for the hit records ‘Rehab’ and ‘Back To Black’, whose life was tragically cut short in 2011, aged 27-years-old, due to alcohol poisoning.
When Will Back To Black Be Released?
Back To Black is expected to be released in 2024, though few details have been confirmed.
Featured image courtesy of Studiocanal UK.
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