Back to Amy. After several attempts at an Amy Winehouse biopic fell through, a new film about the musician’s life — tilted Back to Black — is in the works.
Studiocanal, a European company, recently approved the movie via Deadline, will follow the late U.K. native’s journey from her humble roots as a North London jazz singer to her chart-topping success as a Grammy-winning artist with hits like “Rehab.” The biopic’s title is a nod to the critically acclaimed album Back to Black.
Despite her rise to the top, Winehouse didn’t have an easy time in the spotlight. After battling addiction for many decades, Winehouse, then 27, died in July 2011 from alcohol poisoning. Since the “Wake Up Alone” singer’s untimely death, the 2015 doc Amy, directed Asif KapadiaThe Oscar for best documentary went to, which sparked interest in another film.
Hollywood has tried on numerous occasions to produce a film about the songwriter’s life. In 2018, Winehouse’s family agreed to a deal with Monumental Pictures to have her story adapted by Kinky BootsWriter Geoff Deane. Lotus Entertainment cast Noomi Rapace as the “Me and Mr. Jones” singer with Kristen Sheridan directing, but the project ultimately didn’t get made.
A second biopic, “The Last of the Wild”, will be released in late 2021. Amy’s Life SavedBased on Daphne Barak’s 2010 book of the same name, was reportedly in process via Halcyon Studio, but that also didn’t reach the silver screen.
The project apparently wasn’t favorable toward the British crooner’s father, Mitch Winehouse, who also denied rumors Lady GagaHe was in negotiations to play his daughter. “I wouldn’t mind betting it would be an unknown, young, English — London, cockney — actress who looks a bit like Amy,” he told The SunAt the time.
“What we want is somebody to portray Amy in the way that she was … the funny, brilliant, charming and horrible person that she was,” he continued. “There’s no point really me making the film because I’m her dad. But to get the right people to do it, that’s very important, and we will.”
A screenplay by a British writer Matt GreenhalghWinehouse Estate approval Back to BlackIt seems like things are picking up. Sam Taylor-JohnsonKnown for directing the first installment in the film The Hunger Games, Fifty Shades of GreyFranchise and John Lennon-inspired movie Nowhere Boy, has signed up to direct. She shared the news via Instagram on July 20, 2022.
“This is a dream movie to helm,” Taylor-Johnson wrote via Instagram while sharing a post from DeadlineThe latest. “I’m ready, let’s go… #amywinehouse #backtoblack.”
The film will be produced and distributed by Alison OwenAnd Debra HaywardAlongside Tracey Seaward. According to reports, producers began looking for the right actress to play the role of Winehouse in July 2022.
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