Amy Winehouse leaving a Central London hotel ahead of the premiere of 'Going The Distance' London, England

See First Photo From Amy Winehouse's Biopic: 'Back To Black'

Home / News / See First Photo From Amy Winehouse's Biopic: 'Back To Black'

By Afouda Bamidele on January 16, 2023 at 4:30 PM PST

Amy Winehouse fans will be excited to know that the first photo from her biopic is out!

The legendary star, whose success rivaled most in her time before getting cut short by the untimely tragedy of her death, is finally getting memorialized. This would be the first attempt since her death in 2011 to tell her story on the big screen, and an actress has already been cast to play the talented but troubled singer.

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First Look From Amy Winehouse's Biopic 'Back To Black' Has Been Released

The late star has continued to garner interest in her life despite passing at 27 from alcohol poisoning. While books and even a one-off documentary about her had been in the public space for a while, fans are still gagged about the fact that a proper biopic would be filmed.

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Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in "Back to Black"
Instagram | Focus Features
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News about it first started making the rounds in 2015 and 2018, respectively, but it just came out of it. According to YOU, the musician's family had signed a deal initially with Monumental Pictures, and "Kinky Boots" writer Geoff Deane was slated to write the script. 

It was also noted that proceeds from the film would go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation. Finally, in 2022, Sam Taylor-Johnson was revealed to be the director of the movie which StudioCanal would create. 

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As for who would take on the role of the "Stronger Than Me" singer, Marisa Abela, who is best known for her role as Yasmin in the BBC drama Industry, was cast to take it on. The photo of the actress in character has been released as the film explores the rise and tragic demise of the singer, who was a close friend of Taylor Johnson. 

The "Rehab" singer's family, especially her father, Mitch Winehouse, fully support the film being made, unlike his open critique of Asif Kapadia's Oscar-winning 2015 documentary, "Amy." 

His problem with what he called the "horrible" documentary was how he was portrayed in the worst possible light. In 2018 he stated that an "unknown, young, English, London cockney actress" that looked like his dead daughter could play the role. 

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The epic film is likely to hit the screens in 2024, and the image of the actress in character was posted to @focusfeatures Instagram page with the caption, "Marisa Abela is Amy Winehouse. Production begins on Sam Taylor-Johnson's "BACK TO BLACK" on January 16. Link in bio for more." 

Fans dropped comments under the post, with most stating that they looked forward to its release. One person gushed, "We are so so excited about this! Marisa looks so beautiful as she and I'm she will do her justice! Thanks so much for doing a biopic about Amy, she really deserves this movie! ❤️."

Amy Winehouse at Hylands Park - Day 2Chelmsford, England
MEGA
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While another noted, "She definitely deserves a biopic! Look forward to seeing it once they finish!" One person expressed excitement, writing, "Not all biopics are paint by numbers. Let's hope Anthony McCarten doesn't write this." 

A follower critiqued it a bit by stating, "OK ? Well, you have an excellent British actress there, so a good start, but ya better get it right!! No pressure, though, but fingers crossed for you because this has to be good ?."

The Late 'Frank' Singer's Family Celebrate Her Memory In New Documentary

Loved for her unique gritty vocals, her ability to mix different genres successfully and create timeless sounds endeared her to her fans, making it even more heartbreaking when news of her death came to light. 

The Blast shared that after her untimely demise, her immediate family came together to talk about the star via a documentary released to honor her. The short work titled "Reclaiming Amy" was created to put different viewpoints of her struggles and rise to fame at a very young age. As per Entertainment Inquirer, the stories would be narrated by her mother, Janis Winehouse-Collins.

It would also feature stories from close friends, who knew bits and pieces about her life and how certain events pushed her to make decisions every day. Amy's mother, who was not the same after losing her child, spoke about her long-running addiction problem, saying:

"…She was prone to addiction. She could not stop herself. It's a very cruel beast." 

The documentary aired on Friday, 23, 2021, which coincided with the death anniversary of the "Love Is A Losing Game" singer.

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