The 55-year-old age filmmaker will be at the helm for the Studiocanal movie, titled 'Back to Black', which has been written by her 'Nowhere Boy' collaborator Matt Greenhalgh.
- Jul 13, 2022
AceShowbiz - Sam Taylor-Johnson will direct Amy Winehouse biopic titled "Back to Black". The "Fifty Shades of Grey" filmmaker will be at the helm for the Studiocanal movie, which has been written by her "Nowhere Boy" collaborator Matt Greenhalgh.
As reported by Variety, the director, who was close friends with Amy before her tragic death aged 27 in 2011, wants a relative newcomer to play the late singer. It's said the movie has the full support of her father Mitch Winehouse, who participated in BBC's 2021 documentary "Reclaiming Amy" to mark 10 years since her death.
Studiocanal will produce with Alison Owen and Debra Hayward alongside Tracey Seaward. Allison and Debra have been attached to a biopic about Amy's life for years now, with the Amy estate first penning a deal for the film in 2018.
An earlier script was originally written by "Kinky Boots" scribe Geoff Deane, but now Matt, who wrote "Control" about late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, is on board.
Four years ago, Mitch dismissed the idea of Lady GaGa signing on to play his late daughter, and he admitted he would be happy for an "unknown" actress to take on the role, while he wants the portrayal to be honest. He previously said, "I wouldn't mind betting it would be an unknown, young, English -- London, cockney -- actress who looks a bit like Amy."
"What we want is somebody to portray Amy in the way that she was…the funny, brilliant, charming and horrible person that she was," Mitch added. "There's no point really me making the film because I'm her dad. But to get the right people to do it, that's very important, and we will."
Before her death, Amy, best known for hits like "Rehab", "You Know I'm No Good" and her rendition of The Zutons' "Valerie", released albums "Frank" and "Back To Black", with the latter earning her six Grammy Awards.
