The forthcoming, as-yet-untitled Fred Astaire biopic is shaping up as one of the most anticipated musical projects of the year. Tom Holland reprises his commitment to dance by stepping into the shoes of the legendary Hollywood dancer, while veteran director Paul King shepherds the production under the banners of Pascal Pictures, Lightbulb Pictures and Holland’s own Billy17. Early announcements confirmed Holland’s involvement back in 2021, and the latest casting wave now fills out the roster with two high-profile performers.
New faces for iconic roles
Margaret Qualley has been confirmed as Adele Astaire Fred’s elder sister and original dance partner. Born in 1994, Qualley is 31 years old – a close match to the age gap between the real siblings (Adele 1896, Fred 1899). The actress recently earned a Golden Globe nod for The Substance and has built a résumé that spans HBO’s The Leftovers Ethan Coen’s Drive-Away Dolls and Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things. Her casting brings a blend of dramatic depth and kinetic talent that the producers believe will illuminate Adele’s long-overlooked contribution to early-20th-century dance.
Joining her, Sabrina Carpenter steps into the role of Ginger Rogers the partner most audiences associate with Fred Astaire’s silver-screen magic. At 27, Carpenter already boasts two Grammy awards and a solid filmography that includes The Hate U GiveWork It and the recent Tall Girl 2. Her experience as a singer-songwriter and performer equips her to tackle the musical demands of Rogers, whose choreography with Astaire defined a generation of Hollywood dance.
Behind the scenes: creative team and family endorsement
Director Paul King, known for the beloved Paddington series and the recent Wonka expressed his excitement: “I am thrilled and honored to have been entrusted with telling the story of Fred Astaire and his original dance partner — his big sister Adele — to the big screen.” The screenplay, co-written with Steven Levenson adapts Kathleen Riley’s 2012 biography The Astaires: Fred & Adele with Riley herself serving as a script consultant.
The production enjoys the blessing of Ava Astaire McKenzie Fred Astaire’s daughter, who said she is delighted to see her father’s legacy honored. Her son, Tyler McKenzie also participates as a consultant and co-producer, ensuring familial insight informs the narrative. Executive producers include Harry Holland, Will South (Billy17), Will Clarke and Andy Mayson (Altitude Films), alongside Levenson, highlighting a robust backing from both Hollywood and legacy circles.
Holland’s dance commitment and vision
Having cut his teeth on the West End as the titular character in Billy Elliot the Musical from 2008-10, Holland is no stranger to rigorous choreography. In a recent interview he revealed, “I have a desire to use no doubles to do all of the dancing, to shoot those dances in one shot, how he would have done it.” The actor’s recent box-office triumphs — Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey — gave him the latitude to return to his first love: the dance studio.
With the director’s pledge to capture the elegance of Astaire’s style in uninterrupted takes, the film aspires to honor both Fred’s celebrated partnership with Ginger Rogers and the largely undocumented artistry of his sister Adele. As production moves forward, audiences can anticipate a renewed appreciation for the Astaire siblings, presented through a blend of authentic performance and contemporary cinematic craftsmanship.
