Just as musicals have made a huge comeback, music biopics aren’t going away, either. There are a handful on the way, including this month’s Bob Marley film One Love, which is already earning some solid buzz. And following that, there’s the Amy Winehouse film, Back to Black, starring U.K. star Marisa Abela as the tragic and supremely talented singer.
The film centers on the meteoric rise of Amy Winehouse, whose soulful voice captured the hearts of millions, leading to the release of her groundbreaking album, Back to Black. But it was her struggle against personal demons that also endeared her to many, and sadly she would tragically pass away in 2011 at the age of 27.
Abela isn’t a household name yet, but this is the kind of film that could change that overnight, as she’ll be doing all of her own singing. HBO viewers will recognize her from the acclaimed series, Industry. She also had a small cameo in Barbie as Teen Talk Barbie.
Also in the cast are Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan, and Lesley Manville. The film is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, who directed another music biopic, Nowhere Boy, about John Lennon. She’s best known for directing something called Fifty Shades of Grey? Never heard of it.
Here is the synopsis: A behind-the-scenes glimpse into Amy Winehouse’s early rise to fame and the release of her groundbreaking studio album, Back to Black. Inspired by Amy’s deeply personal and honest lyrics, the film is an unapologetic look at the woman behind the phenomenon and the tumultuous relationship at the center of one of the most legendary albums of all time.
Back to Black will hit theaters on May 17th via Focus Features.
