Trailer for controversial Amy Winehouse film Back to Black released as fans dub biopic ‘too soon’-Robert Oliver-Entertainment – Metro

An Amy Winehouse biopic that’s set to follow the career of the Rehab singer has been branded ‘too soon’ after its trailer was released on Thursday.

The London-born singer and songwriter died in July 2011 aged just 27, after very public struggles with substance abuse, addiction, and mental illness.

During her all too brief pop career Winehouse released two Platinum-selling albums, with the second of those, Back to Black, eventually going 14x Platinum.

Now her life story is set to be dramatised on the big screen with Back to Black, which will be helmed by 50 Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson, the wife of actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Taking on the role of Winehouse will be actress Marisa Abela, 27, who is best known for her role as Yasmin Kara-Hanani in the US drama Industry.

‘I write songs because I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t’ (Picture: StudioCanal)

The film follows Amy from the beginning of her career (Picture: StudioCanal)

The film, set for release on April 12, also stars Jack O’Connell as Winehouse’s on-off husband Blake Fielder, Lesley Manville as her grandmother Cynthia, and Eddie Marsan as Amy’s father Mitch.

But fans of the singer, whose life was also covered in the documentary Amy in 2015, have accused the film of being made ‘too soon’ and that they’re ‘wary’ of how the You Know I’m No Good singer will be portrayed.

X user LiniBkk said, ‘I’m not sure about this one, it feels too soon,’ but added that the final shot of the trailer, which depicts an emotional Amy singing her titular song, left them ‘intrigued’.

Back to Black is set for release on April 12 (Picture: StudioCanal)

Fans have praised the casting of Marisa Abela (Picture: StudioCanal)

Jack O’Connell stars as Amy’s on-off partner Blake (Picture: StudioCanal)

Another potential viewer, user Tinted Who, said: ‘I mean, she sounds astonishingly like Amy, I’ll give props to that. However, I’m very wary about this film and how it’ll portray her nonetheless.’

One user, David, took a particularly hard line and called for people to boycott the film: ‘So sad how even after death, the media continues to exploit Amy. Don’t watch this s**t. Like this is another biopic being made to cash in on biopics like the David Bowie one.’

However, those looking forward to the movie have already praised the resemblance that Barbie star Marisa has to Amy when in costume, complete with her black beehive hairdo and thick winged eyeliner.

The late singer died in July 2011, aged just 27 (Picture: Redferns)

The trailer shows shots of Amy playing her first small concerts, recording in the studio, visiting New York, and being hounded by paparazzi.

In response to concerns about the nature of the film, director Sam, 56, said: ‘I feel excited and humbled to have this opportunity to realise 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.’

It’s not the first time that the filmmaker has helmed a musician’s biopic, with 2009 film Nowhere Boy, which focused on the teenage years of John Lennon, being her first major full-length feature. It’s also the place where she met her husband Aaron on set.

Metro.co.uk reached out to the Amy Winehouse Estate who declined to comment.

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