Marisa Abela (‘Industry’) has been cast as the late Amy Winehouse in the upcoming biopic ‘Back to Black’.
The film is coming from STUDIOCANAL, Focus Features and Monumental Pictures and will be directed and executive produced by Sam Taylor-Johnson (‘Fifty Shades of Grey’).
‘Back to Black’ will tell the story of Winehouse’s vibrant years living in London in the early aughts and her intense journey to fame. Filming is set to begin on Monday 16th January 2023.
The film will focus on Winehouse’s extraordinary genius, creativity and honesty that infused everything she did. A journey that took her from the craziness and colour of 90s Camden High Street to global adoration – and back again, ‘Back to Black’ crashes through the looking glass of celebrity to watch this journey from behind the mirror, to see what Winehouse saw, to feel what she felt.
‘Back to Black’ was written by Matt Greenhalgh (‘Nowhere Boy’) and will feature Winehouse’s iconic songs. The film has the full support of Universal Music Group, Sony Music Publishing and The Amy Winehouse Estate.
Director Sam Taylor-Johnson comments: “My connection to Amy began 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 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.”
Winehouse is widely considered one of the greatest artists in recent history, selling more than 30 million records worldwide, and today generating more than 80 million streams per month. Her acclaimed produced 2006 album ‘Back To Black’, propelled her to global stardom, going on to win a (then) record breaking 5 Grammy Awards, including Record Of The Year and Song of The Year for hit single ‘Rehab’.
