Mark Ronson is applauding the “Back to Black” screenplay for capturing late singer Amy Winehouse’s inherent “humor.”
Music producer Ronson, who collaborated with Winehouse on her Grammy-winning album of the same name, told Entertainment Tonight during the 2024 Oscars that while he has not watched biopic “Back to Black” yet, he can confirm the script captured Winehouse’s essence.
“I haven’t seen the film [but] I read the script,” Ronson said. “I love the script and the way that it really got…Amy was so funny and they really nailed her humor. I haven’t seen the film yet.”
“Back to Black” stars “Industry” breakout Marisa Abela as Winehouse, with Jack O’Connell as Winehouse’s ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, Eddie Marsan as Winehouse’s father Mitch Winehouse, and Lesley Manville as her maternal grandmother. Jeff Tunke portrays Ronson.
While Ronson did not meet with Tunke for the role, the “Barbie” composer was able to spend time with with Abela.
“Yes, she came to visit us in the studio where Amy and I recorded a lot of ‘Back to Black,’” Ronson said. “She wanted to come and see it. She seems lovely.”
“Back to Black” is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by “Nowhere Boy” scribe Matt Greenhalgh. The film follows Winehouse’s rise in the British music scene, culminating in her record-breaking Grammys win. Winehouse died in 2011 at age 27 from alcohol abuse.
In a press release accompanying the film’s trailer, Taylor-Johnson recalled seeing Winehouse perform live.
“She wasn’t just ‘talent,’ she was genius,” Taylor-Johnson said. “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.”
All of Winehouse’s music, including title track “Back to Black,” was licensed for the feature, made with the full support of Universal Music Group, Sony Music Publishing, and The Amy Winehouse Estate. A first look at the film showed Abela as Winehouse in the recording studio.
“Back to Black” is a Focus Features release and will be out in theaters May 17.
