Amy Winehouse will be the subject of a movie biography, with the consent and participation of her family. The singer’s father, Mitch Winehouse, disapproved of Asif Kapadia’s documentary “Amy,” which won an Oscar in 2016. He called it “a negative, spiteful and misleading portrayal” of his daughter, who died of accidental alcohol poisoning in 2011.
“I am not changing my stance just because film won Oscar,” he said at the time.
Alison Owen and Debra Haywood will produce the feature for Monumental Pictures, with Geoff Deane (“Kinky Boots”) on board to write the screenplay. Proceeds from the film will benefit the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which her family established in her name to help other women fight addiction.
Although he previously turned down all offers from rights-seeking filmmakers, “We now feel able to celebrate Amy’s extraordinary life and talent,” Winehouse said in a statement.
“We know through the Amy Winehouse Foundation that the true story of her illness can help so many others who might be experiencing similar issues. With Alison and Debra we have found fantastic British producers who understand what Amy meant to people, alongside an illustrious history of bringing amazing female-driven stories to the big screen.”
Production on the film will begin in 2019.
