Lady Gaga favoured to play Amy Winehouse in upcoming Back to Black biopic
Director Sam Taylor-Johnson has called the project a “dream movie to helm”.
Words: Emily Maskell; pictures: Wiki Commons
An Amy Winehouse biopic titled Back to Black is confirmed to be in the works and Lady Gaga is favoured to play the late singer.
The film will be helmed by 50 Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson, and has been backed by Amy Winehouse’s estate.
Taylor-Johnson, 55, shared the directing news on Instagram, calling the project a “dream movie to helm”.
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With the casting search for Back to Black expected to begin soon, the Grammy-winning songwriter and A Star Is Born actress could be that perfect person.
On Twitter people are split as to whether Gaga would be the ideal choice for the film.
One person said: “The only person who can play Amy Winehouse is Lady Gaga”
The only person who can play Amy Winehouse is Lady Gaga. https://t.co/V93aHIS7GN
— a rotten recipes stealing bitch 🤬 (@Glory20035) July 12, 2022
While someone else wrote: “Lady Gaga Is the complete opposite of Amy Winehouse, Gaga is to much like Madonna.”
Lady Gaga Is the complete opposite of Amy Winehouse, Gaga is to much like Madonna.
Amy had her own unique style about herself Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones be a far better choice.
— Tom O (@Tommy_Oldham1) July 12, 2022
Winehouse died in July 2011 at 27 years old due to accidental alcohol poisoning. Since her death, there have been numerous attempts to make a biopic about her life.
Winehouse’s father has been vocal in his critique of cinematic reflections on his daughter, he told the Guardian that Asif Kapadia’s Oscar-winning 2015 documentary, Amy, “is both misleading and contains some basic untruths”.
Noomi Rapace was attached to star as Winehouse in Irish filmmaker Kristen Sheridan’s 2015 Winehouse biopic but the project never moved forward.
The role of Winehouse will be a challenge for whoever lands the part, the singer was known for her astonishing voice and magnetic presence but many believe Gaga would be a perfect contender.
Amy Winehouse biopic titled “Back to Black” is officially in the works with Lady Gaga placed as a top choice. pic.twitter.com/FDBkMXh7jN
— Pop Tingz (@ThePopTingz) July 12, 2022
It seems Gaga will have her choice of acting projects with reports that she’s also in the running to star opposite Joaquin Phoenix in writer-director Todd Philips’ musical sequel to Joker.
The ‘Rain on Me’ singer has already proven her dramatic acting chops in her explosive turn as Patrizia Reggiani in the 2021 biographical crime drama House of Gucci.
Taylor-Johnson’s film, named after Winehouse’s second album, has been written by Matt Greenhalgh and is thought to trace the singer-songwriter’s making of the renowned album.
The Back to Black album put Winehouse in the history books, it was one of the best-selling albums in UK history and she went on to win five Grammy Awards, the first British woman to do so, at the 2008 awards show.
The Attitude July/August issue is out now.