Margaret Qualley & Sabrina Carpenter Join Fred Astaire Biopic

Preview:

Margaret Qualley & Sabrina Carpenter have joined the developing Fred Astaire biopic.
Tom Holland is starring and shepherding the movie.
‘Paddington’s Paul King will direct.

Thousands of years ago (okay, 2021) Tom Holland dropped word that he, producer Amy Pascal and studio Sony were developing a biopic of legendary dancer Fred Astaire.

Then, in 2023, it appeared that both Holland and Jamie Bell were attached to competing Astaire projects, with Margaret Qualley aboard Bell’s version (which is also still in development) as longtime Astaire dance partner Ginger Rogers.

Now, though, comes word via Deadline that Qualley is actually starring in the Holland version as Adele Astaire, with Sabrina Carpenter as Rogers.

Paul King, who made ‘Paddington’ and ‘Wonka’ is on board to direct, having co-written the script with Steven Levenson (‘Fosse/Verdon’). Astaire’s daughter, Ava Astaire McKenzie lends her support to the project alongside her son, Tyler McKenzie.

What’s the story of the Fred Astaire biopic?

Fred Astaire in 1935's 'Top Hat'. Photo: RKO Radio Pictures. — Fred Astaire in 1935’s ‘Top Hat’. Photo: RKO Radio Pictures.

While it’s not known exactly what shape the new movie will take (it seems unlikely to be a basic cradle-to-grave affair, especially in the creative hands of King).

Fred and Adele (she was his big sister) were major stars on Broadway and London’s West End before Fred Astaire went on to be one of cinema’s greatest stars with co-star and dance partner Rogers.

Fred Astaire biopic: the director talks

Director Paul King at the London World Premiere of 'Wonka.' Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. — Director Paul King at the London World Premiere of ‘Wonka.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s what Paul King had to say about the movie:

“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. Fred left a timeless legacy of dance on film, most famously in his collaborations with Ginger Rogers, while Adele’s work has been lost to history; indeed, no footage of her dancing survives. The cinematic challenge of bringing to life these icons of the 20th century is one that I could not imagine without Tom Holland, Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter by my side.”