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Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter Join Tom Holland in Fred Astaire Biopic
Confirmed
In Short: Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter have joined Tom Holland in a biopic about Fred Astaire.
Deadline reports that Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter have joined Tom Holland in a biopic about Fred Astaire, with Holland set to star as the legendary dancer.
Qualley will play Adele Astaire, Fred's older sister and his first professional dance partner, while Carpenter will portray Ginger Rogers, Astaire's famous screen partner.
Holland began his career in dance, starring in the West End production of 'Billy Elliot the Musical' in 2008.
The film is based on the book 'The Astaires: Fred & Adele' by Kathleen Riley, with a script written by Levenson and King.
Carpenter recently received her first Primetime Emmy nomination for her work on 'The Muppet Show,' while Qualley has starred in films such as 'The Dog Stars' and 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
The project has been in development for nearly five years, with Holland first revealing his involvement in 2018.
Producers include Amy Pascal and Rachel O'Connor, alongside Holland's company Billy17 and Lightbulb Pictures.
Executive producers for the film include Harry Holland and Will South from Billy17, as well as Will Clarke and Andy Mayson from Altitude Filmed Entertainment.
Ava Astaire McKenzie, Fred Astaire's daughter, is supporting the project.
The Astaires were stars on Broadway and London's West End before Fred Astaire went on to become a Hollywood icon with Ginger Rogers.
What this adds
The film aims to celebrate the careers and legacy of Fred Astaire and his dance partners Adele Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Background
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starring role in Kitty Foyle (1940), and performed during the 1930s in RKO's musical films with Fred Astaire.
What's confirmed
- Deadline has reported that Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter have joined Tom Holland in the Fred Astaire biopic in which Holland will star as the famed actor and dancer from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
- Tom Holland began his performing career in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical, making his debut as Michael Caffrey in 2008 before taking over the title role later that year.
- Ctrl + K to open · Esc to close Qualley will star as Adele Astaire and Carpenter will star as Ginger Rogers.
- Fred and Adele were stars on Broadway and London’s West End before Fred Astaire went on to become a Hollywood star with dance partner Ginger Rogers.
- Two-time Grammy Award winner Sabrina Carpenter recently received her first Primetime Emmy nomination, recognized in the Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) category for her work as both an executive producer and performer on The Muppet Show.
- The development comes nearly five years after Holland first revealed he would be leading the project.
- RELATED: 11 Music Biopics About Iconic Singers: Elvis, Whitney, Michael, Tina & More “I am thrilled and honored to have been entrusted with telling the story of Fred Astaire and his original dance partner — his big sister Adele — to the big screen,” King said.
- Levenson and King wrote the script, based on the book The Astaires: Fred & Adele by Kathleen Riley.
- Amy Pascal and Rachel O'Connor are producing alongside Holland, on behalf of his company Billy17, and Ben Holden and Josh Hyams of Lightbulb Pictures.
- Ava Astaire McKenzie, Fred Astaire's daughter, is supporting the project.
- Qualley will play Adele Astaire, Fred's older sister and his first professional dance partner on Broadway and London's West End.
What's still developing
- Qualley’s other screen work includes Ethan Coen ’s Drive-Away Dolls and Honey Don’t, as well as How to Make a Killing, Poor Things, Kinds of Kindness, Blue Moon, Sanctuary, Stars at Noon, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Native Son and Seberg.
- “I’m delighted to support this endeavor to celebrate the extraordinary careers and enduring legacy of my father and aunt, who were among the biggest musical stars of their era,” Astaire McKenzie said.
- RELATED: Singers Who Also Act: Ariana Grande To Lady Gaga And More Qualley is coming off of The Dog Stars, in which she starred alongside Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce.
- RELATED: ‘Love Of Your Life’ Review: Margaret Qualley On A Quest To Find Herself In Wandering Romantic Drama Of Grief And Renewal – Toronto Film Festival Holland began his career as a dancer on the West End stage, where he played the titular role from 2008-10 in the dance-driven musical about a boy born to dance, Billy Elliot The Musical, written by Lee Hall.
- Holland can currently be seen in Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is breaking box office records with a worldwide gross of more than $2 billion; and The Odyssey, which has topped $1.72 billion.
- This is fascinating because I believe Qualley was supposed to played Ginger Rogers in another movie about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
- Qualley made her screen debut on HBO's "The Leftovers" and earned a Golden Globe nomination last year for "The Substance," opposite Demi Moore.
- Holland, who began his career in dance with a West End role in Billy Elliot The Musical, has solidified his status as a box office draw through recent projects, most notably Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
- The Astaires graced major stages in Broadway and London’s West End before Fred became known as one of the most prominent stars in cinematic history, largely due to his collaborations with Rogers.
- Rogers was an actress, singer, and dancer who became one of the most beloved stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
- During the 1930s, she worked with Astaire in a series of musical films.