According to an Instagram post by Stereogum, a biopic on the late singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse will be released via Focus Features. The film, titled Back to Black, will be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and stars Marisa Abela as the singer. It is set to be released in the UK on April 12th and in the US on May 10th.
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The film is based on a script by Matt Greenhalgh, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Taylor-Johnson and Greenhalgh previously had a successful collaboration on the film Nowhere Boy.
Along with Abela, the main cast will also include Jack O’Connell portraying Winehouse’s former husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, Eddie Marsan as her father, Mitch Winehouse, Juliet Cowan as her mother, Janis Winehouse, and Lesley Manville as her grandmother, Cynthia Winehouse.
According to Buzzfeed, a press release explained that the film’s focus will follow Winehouse’s early career through to the release of Back to Black, Amy’s sophomore and final album before her untimely death at 27 in 2011.
While many fans are not too keen on the release of this film, as seen in the post’s comment section, it should also be noted that Taylor-Johnson’s biopic is being made with support from Amy’s estate.
If Winehouse’s life interests you, check out MXDWN’s other coverage on the late singer, such as on a recent lawsuit, a live album release, the Winehouse hologram tour and the plans for this tour, an unreleased demo, plans for a musical about the singer’s life, and the destruction of her demos.