Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Biopic with Jamie Bell & Margaret Qualley Dances EFM with Black Bear, 30West, UTA and ‘La La Land’

Exclusive: Black Bear International launches international sales Fred and GingerMusical about the passionate and explosive relationship between Hollywood dancing legends Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

The project was previously pitched at Amazon but Black Bear and financier 30West (The triangle of sorrow) now aboard. UTA Independent Film Group and 30West will co-represent US rights.

As previously reported, BAFTA-winner Jamie Bell (Billy ElliotMargaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as the naturally gifted Rogers. The film aims to start production by the end of this year.

Jonathan Entwistle (The End of the F*king WorldWriter to direct from a screenplay by Arash Amel (Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare)

Hollywood icons Astaire and Rogers starred in ten movies together, starting with Flying down to Rio In 1933 and ended Barclays on Broadway In 1949. The duo revolutionized the musical film genre and enthralled the audience with their innovative flair. The movie focuses on a life-defining point in their early careers when their contrasting dance styles and competitive rivalry threaten to destroy their legendary partnership.

rocket man Star Bale showed her prowess as a dancer in her breakout performances in the 2000s Billy Elliot. Kwali acted as a dancer in FX Phos/Verdon and the viral Kenzo perfume ad directed by Spike Jonze.

Grammy-winning music producer Marius de Vries (La La Land) will work with Tony-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon (MJ The Musical) and Grammy-winning songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Beare, and Emmy-nominated Mark Sonnenblick, the duo is noted for recreating music and dance numbers.

Fred Berger (La La Land) and Brian Cavanaugh-Jones (bad education(Max Minghella) of AutomaticTeen Spirit) with Bell, Qualley, Amell and Entwistle. 30WEST will executive-produce and fully finance.

“Margaret and Jamie were born to portray this legendary dance duo,” said producer Fred Berger. We’re excited to bring people a big fun event – full of surprises and heart – that will leave you laughing, crying and dancing. of the theatre.”

“Nothing is more important to consumers around the world than life-affirming and original entertainment that feels truly dramatic,” said John Friedberg, president of Black Bear International. “Fred and Ginger Answers all these needs and more. It’s an extraordinary story, with pitch-perfect casting, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring it to market with our close friends at Automatic and 30WEST.”

As often happens, a ‘rival’ Fred Astaire project is in the works. Sonny Dancer has a biopic with Tom Holland attached to star. THR had an update on that today Paddington Filmmaker Paul King is set to direct it, though a start date is apparently not forthcoming. Lee Hall is working on the screenplay.

Bell will next be seen in Andrew Hayes the stranger Alongside Paul Mescal and Claire Foy and between Anthony Mandler surrounded by For MGM.

Quali recently starred in the Netflix series the maid. Upcoming, he will act the sanctuary, along with Christopher Abbott, for Neon; Ethan Coen’s Untitled Project for Focus Features; Yorgos Lanthimos’ Weak things And AndBoth for Searchlight; And substanceFor job title and public.

Qualley is represented by UTA and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Bell is repped by UTA and 3 Arts Entertainment and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern. Entwistle is represented by CAA, 42, and Grandview. Amell is represented by Grandview and Myman Greenspan. Wheeldon is repped by CAA. Sonnenblick is represented by CAA. Barlow & Bear is repped by CAA and Richard Kraft at Kraft-Engel; Barlow David Ferreria is represented at Mark Music & Media Law; Beer is also represented by Adam Marcel at Immersive Management and Ken Hertz at Hertz Liechtenstein & Young.