Marisa Abela has been cast as the Grammy-winning singer Amy Winehouse in the biopic Back to Black. The film has the blessing of Amy Winehouse’s estate and will be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson from a screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh.

Expect to hear many of Winehouse's hit songs in the film, as "Back To Black" is moving forward with the full support of Universal Music Group, Sony Music Publishing, and The Amy Winehouse Estate.

Sam Taylor-Johnson will direct the UK-us production, which will depict Winehouse’s vibrant years living in London in the early noughties and her intense journey to fame.

Director Sam Taylor-Johnson comments: "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…. 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 realize 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."

The first still from the film was released on the weekend and featured Abela performing on stage.

Abela also posted to Instagram on Friday her own words of praise for the late British singer, who died at 27 years old in 2011 due to alcohol poisoning: "And for London. This is for London. Cause Camden Town ain't burnin down. I love you, Amy."

Source: Press Release