When Sam Taylor-Johnson's Amy Winehouse biopic was announced in 2022, worried fans' hearts seemed to collectively sink.
And on Thursday, the first full trailer for the film starring Marisa Abela was released ahead of its UK cinema release in April – with scenes showing the late star's rise to fame, ill-fated romance and personal struggles.
Amy's father Mitch Winehouse, played by Eddie Marsan, sparked shock when it was revealed he was backing the film, which has come under fire for “creepy” depictions of the star's drug addiction and the filming of her funeral.
The biopic about the star, who died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27, sparked outrage among friends. Musician Neon Hitch branded the film “ridiculous” and “tasteless” and said: “I feel very strange. 'Could you all please rest Amy?'
Why did Back To Black cause so much shock?
'How Back To Black' will be the most controversial film of 2024: Amy Winehouse biopic's funeral scenes, overdose depiction and bad likenesses anger pals, but STILL has the support of father Mitch
Last year, Amy's friends expressed their anger at her father after he allowed scary scenes about her drug overdose to be filmed in their old apartment. Last February, Marisa was seen wearing an oxygen mask as she left the north London property
Amy was famously close to her father Mitch, who shocked fans and friends by supporting the film (Mitch and Amy in 2008)
Back To Black filmed funeral scenes in a north London cemetery last year
Art imitates life: Insiders on the set of the new Amy Winehouse biopic have raised concerns that the film's leads don't look like the singer and her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, it's said
At the time, Amy's friends were devastated that her father had given permission to use the Camden apartment to recreate one of his daughter's darkest moments, which took place in August 2008
SCENES OVERDOSE: 'The fact that her dad said it was OK is disgusting.' His behavior is shocking'
Last year, Amy's friends expressed their anger at her father after he allowed scary scenes about her drug overdose to be filmed in their old apartment. Last February, Marisa was seen wearing an oxygen mask as she left the north London property.
The apartment now belongs to Mitch, who also appears in the scene as Eddie was filmed in the role of the paramedic along with Marisa and other actors.
At the time, Amy's friends were devastated that her father had given permission to use the Camden apartment to recreate one of his daughter's darkest moments, which took place in August 2008.
A marathon 36-hour drug session followed, which ended with her checking herself into the £10,000-a-week Causeway Retreat rehabilitation center on Osea Island, Essex.
One told The Mail on Sunday: “The fact that Amy's father said OK to a scene where she overdosed in the flat where she lived is disgusting.” It was such a personal thing and it's so annoying and unnecessary…
“It's like the film is reliving the darkest moments in her life, even though there were so many more amazing moments.” All we see is the depressing stuff, but that's not who she was. Mitch should be ashamed.
“His behavior is shocking.” He didn't know what was going on with all of us during those years or what she was like. “Amy would really hate it if they focused on all the dark things she's been through.”
Amy lived in the apartment until 2010, when she bought a four-story house nearby, where she was found dead the following year, aged 27.
It was later confirmed that she died of alcohol poisoning.
Fans of the stars criticized the creation of the Back To Black biopic about the singer's life
Amy and Blake married in Miami in 2007 and were photographed months later after a heated argument in which it was revealed they had taken heroin (pictured in 2007).
Jack plays the role of Blake (right in 2007), who met Amy in a pub in Camden in 2005 and began an infamously turbulent relationship with her
Amy died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27 (pictured with Blake in 2007).
In one scene in the film, Amy and Blake are seen drinking together in a park while Jack spends most of the time lying down to hide their similar height
WHO IS WHO? “People have noticed how little they look like Amy and Blake”
In April, on-set insiders expressed concerns that the film's leads didn't look like the singer and her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil.
The height difference between Marisa and her co-star Jack O'Connell is said to have been a serious problem for the couple. Amy, who was only 5ft 7in tall, was 6 inches shorter than Blake, while Marisa and Jack were reportedly the same height.
According to The Mirror, film bosses have tried to make Marisa appear smaller than Jack.
A source said: “People have noticed how little they resemble Amy and Blake – particularly the height difference between them.”
Speaking to TMZ about the new release about his daughter, Mitch said: “Marisa is Marisa and Amy is Amy… so it's no big deal if they're not mirror images.”
“We're used to Blake towering over Amy, but Jack is the same height as Marisa. “That means flat shoes for her and lots of cleverly filmed scenes.”
In one scene in the film, Amy and Blake are seen drinking together in a park while Jack spends most of the time lying down to hide their similar height.
The insider said: “In this scene, Jack spends most of his time lying on the grass rather than standing.” “While there's not much you can do, a lot of time was spent making sure the lack of height difference didn't affect the audience disturbs.”
This came after Mitch defended the controversial casting as he disagreed with the backlash against Marisa's casting, saying on Twitter she was a “good choice” and claiming it didn't matter if they “don't look exactly the same”.
Speaking to TMZ about the new release about his daughter, Mitch said: “Marisa is Marisa and Amy is Amy… so it's no big deal if they're not mirror images.”
“Marisa is a great choice for the role”
He went on to say that Eddie doesn't look exactly like him either, noting, “There's too much emphasis on looks. Because there are a lot of examples in Hollywood of actors not looking like their real characters.”
Friends of Amy also expressed their dismay. One said they were unhappy with the casting of Marisa because, in their opinion, she didn't look like the Rehab singer, despite the near-perfect wig she wore and identical tattoos.
They also contrast the Roedean-educated Marisa's social background with the London-born Ms. Winehouse, who was known for her easy-going demeanor: “No one questioned us about Amy…”
“How can it be authentic and accurate when they don't know the real Amy or the truth about what happened in her final years?” We're against it and we're upset. “Amy was absolutely impressive.”
Marisa's rendition of Amy's 2007 song “Back To Black” can be heard in the trailer
In April, Back To Black bosses caused further controversy by filming funeral scenes in the same cemetery where the singer is buried in a north London graveyard
FUNERAL SCENES
In April, Back To Black bosses caused further controversy by filming funeral scenes in the same cemetery where the singer is buried in a north London graveyard.
Marisa cut a somber figure as she transformed into the late singer while filming the funeral of Amy's beloved grandmother Cynthia, who died in 2006.
The cast wore all black as they recorded the moment the coffin was wheeled into the cemetery. Also seen on set were Eddie and Juliet Cowan, who plays Amy's mother Janis.
The film is scheduled to be released in the UK on April 12th and in the US on May 10th.
The biopic was described as “an unprecedented look into Amy Winehouse's early rise to fame and the release of her groundbreaking studio album Back To Black,” according to Focus Features.
The teaser trailer for the controversial Amy Winehouse biopic, Back To Black, was released on Thursday and shows the late singer's rise to fame
Told from Amy's perspective, the film takes a candid look at the woman who transforms into a global pop star and the relationship that inspired one of the most iconic albums of all time.
Amy based the album Back To Black largely on her on-and-off relationship with 41-year-old Blake, from whom she split before its release in October 2006.
He had left the then-rising star to look after his former ex-girlfriend, but in the end their short-lived breakup inspired a series of songs that explore the themes of guilt, grief, infidelity, heartbreak and trauma in a relationship .
Back To Black delighted a multitude of people and gave its star a star turn following five hits: “Rehab”, “You Know I'm No Good”, “Back To Black”, “Tears Dry On Their Own” and “Love Is A Losing Game”. .
The on-off couple reunited in Miami in 2007 to get married, but were photographed months later after a heated argument in which it was revealed they had taken heroin.
The following year, Blake ended up in prison for eight months after admitting perverting the course of justice and GBH, and filed for divorce in 2009.
Despite alleged complaints about the lack of physical resemblance, bosses are said to be thrilled with Marisa's casting thanks to her powerful singing