Back to Black, the upcoming Amy Winehouse biopic from director Sam Taylor-Johnson, may have found its star to play the troubled singer. Variety reports that Marisa Abela, a star in the hit HBO/BBC series Industry, has emerged as a frontrunner.
It’s unclear who else is in contention, but there are reportedly a few others in the mix. The 25-year-old Abela is on quite a roll. She not only stars in the Sky TV series COBRA, but will be seen next in the thriller Rogue Agent alongside James Norton and Gemma Arterton. She’s also part of the large ensemble in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie.
So the role isn’t locked yet, but Abela looks like she’s closing in on it. That said, this is a tricky role to play. Winehouse’s undeniable talent was marred by the personal demons that cost her life. You don’t want any attempt to depict her life to be exploitative, so expect that Taylor-Johnson and Winehouse’s father, who has given the film his full support, to be very cautious with casting.
