Amy Winehouse biopic: New image of Marisa Abela as the late singer unveiled and release date confirmed

Excitement for the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black is growing as the studio behind the film unveiled a second image alongside its release date.

Marisa Abela, 26, who has starred in BBC Two series Industry and Sky One drama Cobra, portrays the iconic British singer in the film that will hit UK and Ireland cinemas on April 12, 2024.

Celebrating the news, the production company behind the film, Studio Canal, released a new image of Abela as Winehouse, sporting the late artist's trademark winged eyeliner, large hoop earrings and lip piercing.

Abela is joined in the film by BAFTA winning actor Jack O'Connell, Eddie Marsan as well as Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated Lesley Manville. 

Nowhere Boy and Fifty Shades Of Grey’s Sam Taylor-Johnson directs the feature, which the production company said "will focus on Amy’s extraordinary genius, creativity and honesty that infused everything she did.

"A journey that took her from the craziness and colour of 90s Camden High Street to global adoration – and back again, Back to Black crashes through the looking glass of celebrity to watch this journey from behind the mirror, to see what Amy saw, to feel what she felt.”

A second image from the biopic was released on Tuesday (Dean Rogers)

Winehouse, one of the defining talents of her generation, died of alcohol poisoning aged 27 at her home in Camden, north London, on July 23 2011.

She was known for her soulful voice and songs such including Love Is A Losing Game and Tears Dry On Their Own, along with her collaboration with Mark Ronson in a cover of Valerie.

Previously, her former band leader defended the singer's biopic after fans worried that the film might exploit her memory.

Dale Davis, who played with Winehouse throughout her career, and is helping the film with accuracy and music, told The Standard from what he’s seen the film will be a tribute.He told us back in March: "I want the best for Amy and her legacy" he told us, adding that it is “surreal" seeing recreations of their old gigs.

He shared: “There was always going to be a film coming out about Amy... you’re always going to get criticism of whatever you do”.

Davis said Abela didn't have an “easy job" singing and talking like Winehouse but is getting “better and better all the time”.

“She seems like a great actress, watching her do take after take after take” he said, of his time on set.