There's a lot that can be said about the Fifty Shades of Grey movies, and a lot more that should probably never be said in polite company. But those films definitely know how to be evocative. Perhaps that's why the first entry's director just got tapped to helm an upcoming biopic. But is that enough?
French production company StudioCanal, whose past credits include hits like Terminator 2: Judgment Day and JFK, is reportedly working on a new movie following the life of the late and beloved singer Amy Winehouse. Titled Back to Black, this effort to tell her story is the latest in a number of similar projects, with A24's acclaimed 2015 documentary Amy notably coming to fruition. Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson has signed on to head the production, with screenwriter Matt Greenhalgh having already produced a script.
Winehouse's story is a tragic one, filled with circumstances all too familiar to long-time fans of musical artists like Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin. Starting out as a jazz performer in London, the English singer/songwriter led a powerful rise through the entertainment world in a relatively short time. Her deep, soulful voice and ability to master a great number of musical genres proved her as a melodic force to be reckoned with. Starting her professional career in 2002, it wasn't long before the world saw her for the massive talent she was.
In her relatively short career, she released 2 influential and extremely memorable albums. The first, Frank, saw modest success at the time of its 2003 debut. But it was her 2006 album Back to Black that really proved her staying power, with a quick trip to number 1 on the charts in several territories. Winehouse had essentially become a household name, and it was thanks to her voice and her deeply personal music. Unfortunately, Back to Black was also her final album, as she tragically died in 2011 of alcohol poisoning after a life of struggling with addiction. Like many legends in the music world, she passed at the age of 27.
While Taylor-Johnson is perhaps best known for directing Fifty Shades of Grey, the British filmmaker's career spans further than that. In 2009, she saw her directorial debut with Nowhere Boy, based on stories from John Lennon's teenage years. More recently, she also directed 2 episodes of the Amazon Prime sci-fi anthology series Solos, which she also produced. Greenhalgh, meanwhile, has worked on the original British Queer as Folk series as well as the 2007 British biographical film Control, based on the life of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis.
Any given thoughts on Fifty Shades aside, Back to Black looks like it has a lot of promise behind it from the undeniable talent of Taylor-Johnson to the impressive resume boasted by StudioCanal. No word yet on who will play Winehouse herself, but it's bound to be a thoughtful and interesting choice when it happens.
Source: Deadline