Well, it’s official: “Industry” star Marisa Abela plays Amy Winehouse in Sam Taylor-Johnson‘s upcoming biopic “Back To Black.” The long-gestating project finally enters production on January 16 in London. The film traces Winehouse’s rise to fame in London in the early ’00s, when she and Taylor-Johnson first met and became friends in Camden’s High Street scene.
Taylor-Johnson has had the project in mind for a while, but Abela emerged as the frontrunner for the Winehouse role only last summer. It’s Abela’s first headlining role in her film career. Outside of “Industry,” a series that’s a sensation unto itself, Abela’s recent work includes “She Is Love” and a small role in Greta Gerwig‘s upcoming “Barbie,” out this summer.
Taylor-Johnson directs “Back To Black” from a script by Matt Greenhalgh. The pair also collaborated on 2009s “Nowhere Boy.” Greenhalgh’s other work includes another British music biopic, “Control,” about Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. “Back To Black” is a huge undertaking for Taylor-Johnson, with full support from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Publishing, and The Amy Winehouse Estate. Taylor-Johnson also serves as co-executive producer on the film with Anne Cherel, Aska Yamaguchi, and Sophie Leuthreau for Studiocanal, and Howard Meyers and Marin Bobb for Focus Features. Focus also handles the film’s US distribution.
“Back To Black” isn’t just another film project for Taylor-Johnson, but a love letter to an old friend. “My connection to Amy began when I left college and was hanging out in the creatively diverse London borough of Camden,” Taylor-Johnson said in a press statement. “I got a job at the legendary KOKO CLUB, and I can still breathe every market stall, vintage shop and street… A few years later Amy wrote her searingly honest songs whilst living in Camden. Like with me, it became part of her DNA. I first saw her perform at a talent show at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho and it was immediately obvious she wasn’t just ’talent’… she was genius. As a filmmaker you can’t really ask for more. I feel excited and humbled to have this opportunity to realise Amy’s beautifully unique and tragic story to cinema accompanied by the most important part of her legacy – her music. I am fully aware of the responsibility, with my writing collaborator – Matt Greenhalgh – I will create a movie that we will all love and cherish forever. Just like we do Amy.”
Before her passing away in 2011, Amy Winehouse quickly became one of the most popular recording artists in recent history. Her 2006 album “Back To Black” cemented her stardom, winning a (then) record-breaking 5 Grammy Awards, including Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year for “Rehab.” She went on to sell over 30 million records worldwide, and generated over 80 million streams per month. Producer Alison Owen looks forward to potraying Winehouse’s legacy onscreen. “Amy Winehouse is the greatest musical talent of the 21st century so far,” said Owen. “But like so many female icons, the tragedy of her death has seemed to obscure the triumph of her talent…the fun of the noughties, the craziness of Camden, her youth and brilliance – we want to reclaim that for her, with this film.”
With production on “Back To Black” underway starting next week, the film may be ready for awards season next year. But a 2024 theatrical release is more likely. Check out a first-look photo of Marisa Abela as Winehouse below.
