Introducing the upcoming biopic Back to Black, Marisa Abel will be playing the role of the late legendary singer Amy Winehouse. Focus Features and StudioCanal have been in talks since 2018 to make this project a reality. The first image of Abel in the role has been released, confirming previous reports of her casting. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Matt Greenhalgh, the biopic will be produced by Alison Owen, Debra Hayward, and Nicky Kentish-Barnes. Amy Winehouse’s estate has endorsed the project, which will feature her songs. The film will explore Amy’s genius, creativity, and honesty that permeated everything she did, from the craziness of 90s Camden High Street to her universal adoration. Taylor-Johnson has said that he is excited and honored to be able to bring Amy’s story to life and to showcase her talent in the way she deserves. Abella is best known for her role as Yasmin Kara-Hanani in the HBO series The Industry and will also star in the upcoming film adaptation of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. Amy’s life was the subject of a 2021 BBC documentary, Amy’s Recovery, released on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the singer’s death.
It was confirmed that the star of the industry Marisa Abel will play Amy Winehouse in the upcoming biopic Back to Black — check out the first image above.
Focus Features is collaborating with StudioCanal on the project, which has been in talks since 2018. On Friday (January 13), the studio released a photo of Abel in the image, confirming previous reports that she had been cast as the Camden singer.
Back to Black will be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, best known for his work on the 2009 John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy and Fifty Shades of Grey. Filming is due to begin on Monday (January 16) in London.
The script for the biopic was written by Matt Greenhalgh, who previously worked with Taylor-Johnson on The Nowhere Boy. Alison Owen, Debra Hayward and Nicky Kentish-Barnes will produce.
The project, endorsed by Amy Winehouse’s estate, will feature songs by the singer. “We are thrilled that Studiocanal, Focus Features and Monumental are making this film that celebrates our daughter Amy’s extraordinary musical legacy and showcases her talent in the way she deserves,” her estate said in a statement.
According to a press release, “Return to Black” “will focus on Amy’s extraordinary genius, creativity and honesty that permeates everything she does. The journey that took her from the craziness and color of 90s Camden High Street to universal adoration – and back again, Back To Black goes inside a celebrity mirror to observe that journey behind the mirror to see what Amy saw, yes felt what she felt.”
Speaking of the movie, Taylor-Johnson said: “My relationship with Amy started 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 can still smell every market stall, vintage shop and street.
“A few years later, Amy wrote his searingly honest songs while living in Camden. Like me, it became part of her DNA. The first time I saw her perform was at a talent show at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho, and it was immediately apparent that she wasn’t just ‘talent’… she was brilliant. As a director, you can’t ask for more.
“I’m excited and honored to be able to bring Amy’s a beautiful, unique and tragic story of cinema accompanied by the most important part of her legacy – her music. I am fully aware of the responsibility, along with my co-writer — Matt Greenhalgh — to create a film that we will all love and cherish forever. Just like Amy and me.
Abella is best known for her role as Yasmin Kara-Hanani in the HBO series The Industry. She will also star in the upcoming film adaptation of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie alongside Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
Winehouse’s life was the subject of a 2021 BBC documentary. Amy’s Recovery, released on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the singer’s death. Her father Mitch Winehouse appeared in the film after openly criticizing the 2015 documentary Amy, directed by Asif Kapadia.
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