After years of attempts from Hollywood execs to get an Amy Winehouse biopic green-lit, a film is finally in the works starring Industry’s Marisa Abela in the lead role in Back to Black.
On Monday, the star was spotted on set for the first time, filming in London’s Soho alongside actor Eddie Marsan, who will play Amy’s father Mitch. The two were seen outside of the famous jazz club Ronnie Scott’s, where Winehouse was known to perform in the early days of her career. Abela’s transformation into the Grammy-winner included sporting Winehouse’s signature jet-black beehive bouffant and wearing a leather jacket, black mini dress, hoop earrings and Winehouse’s signature cat eye liner.
The actress posted the news on her Instagram account with a photo of herself in front of a Winehouse mural and a quote from the singer. “’And for London. This is for London. Cause Camden Town ain’t burnin down.’ I love you, Amy. ❤️,” Abela wrote.
In addition to her career-making role as Winehouse, Abela is also set to star in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie, out later this summer.
Sam Taylor-Johnson, the director of Nowhere Boy and the first installment of Fifty Shades of Grey, signed on to helm Back to Black. The project has the support of the singer’s father Mitchell Winehouse and is backed by the Amy Winehouse estate. The screenplay has been written by Matt Greenhalgh, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Taylor-Johnson previously wrote on Instagram that it’s “a dream movie to helm. I’m ready, let’s go…” She posted again on Instagram on Friday with the first look of Abela in costume writing, “Marisa Abela…watch out everyone! Cameras roll on Monday. Here we go!”
The motion picture will follow the life of the six-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who passed away in 2011 at 27 years old after a long-fought battle with addiction. The late star’s stratospheric rise to fame and subsequent passing has been chronicled in Asif Kapadia’s 2015 A24 documentary Amy, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2016. A 2021 BBC documentary Reclaiming Amy also aired on the “Rehab” singer, paying homage to the 10-year anniversary of her untimely death.
The film comes hot off the heels of the release of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis film and the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody. Julia Garner is also set to portray Madonna in an upcoming biopic, Timothée Chalamet will play Bob Dylan in the movie Going Electric. We’re in for a busy biopic season.
