For more than a decade, Hollywood has been struggling to develop a biopic about jazz and soul singer Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011 at the age of just 27. In July last year, things suddenly moved very quickly after Sam Taylor-Johnson (“Fifty Shades Of Grey”) was found as the female director for the project. An actress was also found with Marisa Abela (“Barbie”) who would take the leading role in “Back To Black”.
In the first trailer you can see for yourself how appropriate the choice was and see Marisa Abela in action for the first time as Amy Winehouse. “Back To Black” will hit German cinemas here on April 18, 2024.
This is ‘Back to Black’
The fact that it was especially important for the producers behind ‘Back To Black’ to focus on the authenticity of Amy Winehouse’s life story is also underlined by the casting of Marisa Abela. Like the British singer, Abela is of Jewish descent and has a deep vocal register that does justice to Winehouse’s exceptional vocal range. You also get a first impression of this in the trailer – not to mention the visual transformation!
For Marisa Abela, ‘Back To Black’ is probably her definitive breakthrough. The actress was last seen in the series “Industry” and as Teen Talk Barbie alongside Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the sensational hit “Barbie”. As Amy Winehouse, she now faces her biggest acting challenge yetbecause the soul icon’s life not only consisted of her love of music, but was also characterized by excesses in alcohol and drugs.
Appearing alongside Marisa Abela, Jack O’Connell (“Walls of Violence”), Lesley Manville (“Mrs. Harris and a Dior Dress”), Eddie Marsan (“Vesper Chronicles”) and Bronson Webb (“Rise Of The Footsoldier”) also. Origins”) to the ensemble. The screenplay for “Back To Black” was written by Matt Greenhalgh, who previously wrote the originals for “Control” (about Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis) and “Nowhere Boy” (about Beatles icon John Lennon).Greenhalgh was familiar with biopics that don’t necessarily follow the formula.