After criticizing Asif Kapadia’s Amy Winehouse documentary for being “misleading,” and “contain[ing] some basic untruths,” Mitch Winehouse, father of the late neo-soul singer, has announced he will co-executive produce a biopic about his daughter. According to The Guardian, the Winehouse family has signed a deal to executive produce a film about the Back To Black artist, who died in 2011 from alcohol poisoning. The script comes from Kinky Boots writer Geoffrey Deane, with Monumental Pictures’ Alison Owen (who happens to be mother of singer Lily Allen and Game Of Thrones’ Alfie Allen) producing the film along with Debra Hayward.
In 2015, Mitch Winehouse took exception with the way he was depicted in Kapadia’s film, saying “the film is representing me in a not very good way. There is no balance, there’s nothing about the foundation. It’s portraying me and Amy in not a very good light.” He tells The Guardian that the family has been repeatedly approached about a biopic, but that they only now “feel able to celebrate Amy’s extraordinary life and talent” through film: “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.” And just last week, the family signed off on a hologram tour featuring their late daughter, again with the goal to raise money for the foundation and give “clamoring” fans what they want, even if it is a hologram tour.
Proceeds from the upcoming movie, which is expected to begin filming in 2019, will be donated to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.