(Left) Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in ‘Back to Black.’ Photo: Studiocanal & Monumental Pictures. (Right) Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley in ‘Bob Marley: One Love.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
- Images from ‘Back to Black’ and ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ have arrived online.
- The musical biopics chronicle two musical icons.
- Both films will be out in 2024.
There has been a definite rise in the number of musical biopics in the last few years, spurred, most likely, by the Oscar-winning success of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. We’ve seen films about singing stars such as Elton John, Whitney Houston and “Weird Al” Yankovic brought to life on screen (that last one, admittedly more of a spoof version of the genre).
You can add two more to the list via upcoming movies –– Britain’s Amy Winehouse and Reggae icon Bob Marley. Winehouse’s story will be told in ‘Back to Black’ while Marley gets the cinematic treatment in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’.
A biopic centered on English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse. Read the Plot
What’s the story of ‘Back to Black’?
Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in ‘Back to Black.’ Photo: Studiocanal & Monumental Pictures.
Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson (who has form with musical folk via John Lennon film ‘Nowhere Boy’, the movie stars Marisa Abela as Winehouse, who was widely considered one of the greatest artists in recent history, selling more than 30 million records worldwide, and today generating more than 80 million streams per month.
Her acclaimed 2006 album “Back to Black”, propelled her to global stardom, going on to win a (at the time) record breaking 5 Grammy Awards, including Record Of The Year and Song of The Year for hit single “Rehab”. She got her start on the North London jazz circuit and rose to become a musical superstar. She tragically died of alcohol poisoning at the age of 27.
The movie will focus on Amy’s extraordinary genius, creativity and honesty that infused everything she did. A journey that took her from the craziness and color of 90’s Camden High Street to global adoration.
Who else is in ‘Back to Black’?
The cast also includes Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville.
Related Article: ‘Back to Black’: Amy Winehouse Biopic Casts Marisa Abela
Sam Taylor-Johnson talks ‘Back to Black’
Marisa Abela stars as Amy Winehouse in director Sam Taylor-Johnson’s ‘Back To Black.’
Here’s what the director said when the movie was first announced:
“My connection to Amy began when I left college and was hanging out in the creatively diverse London borough of Camden. I got a job at the legendary KOKO club, and I can still breathe every market stall, vintage shop, and street,” she says in a statement. “A few years later Amy wrote her searingly honest songs whilst living in Camden. Like with me, it became part of her DNA. I first saw her perform at a talent show at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho and it was immediately obvious she wasn’t just ‘talent’… She was genius. As a filmmaker you can’t really ask for more. I feel excited and humbled to have this opportunity to realise Amy’s beautifully unique and tragic story to cinema accompanied by the most important part of her legacy – her music. I am fully aware of the responsibility, with my writing collaborator––Matt Greenhalgh––I will create a movie that we will all love and cherish forever. Just like we do Amy.”
When will ‘Back to Black’ be in theaters?
‘Back to Black’ has yet to confirm a domestic release date, but it starts rolling out in the UK and other international locations on April 12th, 2024.
“Some voices are forever.”
Celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. Discover Bob Marley’s powerful story of overcoming adversity… Read the Plot
What’s the story of ‘Bob Marley: One Love’?
Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley in ‘Bob Marley: One Love.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who most recently made ‘King Richard’, ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity.
We’ll discover Bob’s powerful story of overcoming adversity and the journey behind his revolutionary music.
Who appears in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’?
‘Bob Marley: One Love’ is scheduled to be released in theaters on January, 12th 2024.
The movie stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley, with Lashana Lynch as his wife, Rita. The cast also includes James Norton, Tosin Cole, Umi Myers, Anthony Welsh, Nia Ashi, Aston Barrett Jr., Anna-Sharé Blake, Naomi Cowan and Michael Gandolfini.
Reinaldo Marcus Green on why he chose to make ‘Bob Marley: One Love’
Musician Bob Marley from the 2012 documentary ‘Marley.’
The director told Empire that he knows the film is a big responsibility:
“I’ve always loved Bob, his music was playing in my household growing up was thinking, how serendipitous. Somehow it felt like it was written for me; Bob Marley lived at 42 Oakley Street in London and 42 is my favourite number. There were all these weird signs calling me to this film. And I think what Bob sang for, his message of unity and peace and love are the things I believe in as a human being. I’m sure they’ve been trying to make a Marley move for years and it’s never happened and somehow it’s falling on my doorstep. I just thought, ‘yeah it’s a gigantic risk because Bob is so beloved and an icon, a fascinating character and he has a cult following so you don’t mess with Bob, you can’t get him wrong.’”
A trailer for ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ is now online.
When will ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ land in theaters?
The Marley movie will be on screens on February 14th.
Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley in ‘Bob Marley: One Love.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
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