After many years of delay production has officially begun for the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black. Overnight Focus Features – the studio behind the film – shared a first look image from the upcoming release which see actress Marisa Abela portray the legendary singer. Paparazzi also captured the star filming in London alongside Eddie Marsan this week.
Abela wears Winehouse’s signature beehive up-do, tattoos, beauty mark and big gold jewellery. While the internet is less than convinced by the transformation – one user on Twitter said “arrest her immediately” – it has talented people behind the camera. It’s directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) while Matt Greenhalgh has written the script, and Alison Owen, Debra Hayward and Tracey Seaward will serve as producers.
Named after Winehouse’s 2006 breakthrough album Back to Black, the film is set to explore the life, music and creative journey of the artist “who started off as a budding North London jazz singer to eventually becoming a Grammy-winning music superstar”, according to Deadline. Winehouse tragically died of alcohol poisoning in 2011. She was aged just 27.
Many films have been attempted to be made on the singer, none ever making it to production. The 2015 A24 documentary Amy was a massive success however, and eventually earned an Oscar.
Winehouse’s estate has reportedly given their “full support” of the film. There is no talk of a release date just yet but given filming is already underway we can expect a 2024 premiere. Stay tuned for further developments.
