Movie musical biopics seem to be the only other cinematic breadwinners these days alongside the world of superhero franchise films. Bohemian Rhapsody. Judy. Rocketman. Elvis. Straight Outta Compton. Respect. Get On Up. Tick, Tick…Boom! The list is endless. The logic is quite straightforward — use an existing (and often extensive) fanbase to sell tickets and the marketing and promotional materials virtually write themselves. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the sultry and raspy vocalist whose musical approach infused elements of jazz, R&B, and soul is finally getting a biopic.
Amy Winehouse, who was taken from this world far too soon — joining the stomach-flipping yet aptly named “27 Club” alongside Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison — will be portrayed by Industry star Marisa Abela in an upcoming biopic.
Abela is English, like Winehouse, so we won’t have to worry about an American actor trying to capture not only an English accent but a distinctive one at that. Though most will recognize Abela as Yasmin Kara-Hanani from BBC and HBO’s Industry, she also starred in the Margot Robbie-led Barbie, 2022’s Rogue Agent, and 2022’s She Is Love. Back to Black will mark the actor’s first leading role in a major motion picture.
Produced by StudioCanal and Monumental Pictures, Back to Black will kick off with Winehouse’s early days in North London and track her rise to international stardom. The logline for the film reads:
“Back to Black will focus on Amy’s extraordinary genius, creativity and honesty that infused everything she did. A journey that took her from the craziness and colour of 90’s Camden High Street to global adoration – and back again, Back to Black crashes through the looking glass of celebrity to watch this journey from behind the mirror, to see what Amy saw, to feel what she felt.”
Many recent biopics have honed in on very brief moments in the stars’ lives or specific interpersonal relationships, as seen in Judy and Elvis, respectively; however, it appears that Back to Black will be a more all-encompassing, old-school sort of biopic based on the description.
Abela will be backed by quite a strong ensemble. Jack O’Connell of Lady Chatterley’s Lover and Unbroken will take on Winehouse’s ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil and the Oscar-nominated star of Phantom Thread Lesley Manville will play her grandmother, Cynthia. Eddie Marsan of Ray Donovan fame is set to play Mitch Winehouse, Amy’s father.
Sam Taylor-Johnson, whose extensive directorial accomplishments include Hunters, Solos, Nowhere Boy, and the controversial Fifty Shades of Grey, directs the film. Speaking on her connection to Winehouse, Taylor-Johnson told Rolling Stone:
“My connection to Amy began when I left college and was hanging out in the creatively diverse London borough of Camden. I got a job at the legendary KOKO club, and I can still breathe every market stall, vintage shop, and street… A few years later Amy wrote her searingly honest songs whilst living in Camden. Like with me, it became part of her DNA. I first saw her perform at a talent show at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho and it was immediately obvious she wasn’t just ’talent’… she was genius.”
She went on to note:
“I feel excited and humbled to have this opportunity to realise Amy’s beautifully unique and tragic story to cinema accompanied by the most important part of her legacy – her music. I am fully aware of the responsibility, with my writing collaborator – Matt Greenhalgh – I will create a movie that we will all love and cherish forever. Just like we do Amy.”
Scriptwriter Matt Greenhalgh is an award-winning screenwriter who previously worked with Taylor-Johnson on Nowhere Boy. He is also known for Clocking Off, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, The Look of Love, Acid Burn, and Control.
Alison Owen (Saving Mr. Banks, Elizabeth) and Debra Hayward (Les Miserables, Bridget Jones’s Baby) are producing with Nicky Kentish-Barnes (What’s Love Got To Do With it?, Everest) serving as an executive producer.
The biopic will reportedly feature several of the Grammy winner’s hit songs, and the film has total backing from the Winehouse Estate and Univeral Music Group.
Back to Back will land in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on Friday, April 12, 2024. A US release date has yet to be announced. Be sure to check back with Thought Catalog for updates surrounding the highly-anticipated movie musical.
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