Sony sets 2027 start for Fred Astaire film with Carpenter and Qualley in lead roles

Sony Pictures has cast Sabrina Carpenter and Margaret Qualley in the Fred Astaire biopic. The untitled project is now ready for a 2027 start date. Tom Holland will portray the legendary dancer. Carpenter will play Ginger Rogers. Qualley will take the role of Fred's sister, Adele Astaire.

The film has moved through development stages since Holland first confirmed his involvement in 2021. In July of this year, the actor disclosed that he had begun physical training for the role. He plans to perform the choreography himself rather than rely on body doubles. Holland aims to shoot the dance sequences in single takes to preserve the natural flow of the movement.

Paul King will direct the picture. He is known for directing Paddington and Wonka. King co-wrote the screenplay with Steven Levenson. The story draws from Kathleen Riley's book The Astaires: Fred & Adele. Riley is attached as a story and script consultant.

King noted that Fred Astaire's on-screen work is well preserved. Adele Astaire's contributions have largely vanished from the historical record. The director emphasized the loss of the sister's artistry. "Fred left a timeless legacy of dance on film, most famously in his collaborations with Ginger Rogers, while Adele's work has been lost to history; indeed, no footage of her dancing survives," King said.

Holland described the physical preparation as a mix of enthusiasm and anxiety. He spoke to Good Morning America about the volume of work required to honor the character. "I did my first few rehearsals recently, and it both filled me with excitement and absolute dread because I've got so much work to do to try and do Fred proud," Holland said.

Amy Pascal and Rachel O'Connor are producing the film for Pascal Pictures. Holland is producing through his company Billy17. Ben Holden and Josh Hyams are attached as producers for Lightbulb Pictures. Ava Astaire McKenzie, Fred Astaire's daughter, supports the project. Her son, Tyler McKenzie, serves as a consultant and co-producer. The production is scheduled to begin in early 2027.

The narrative will trace the siblings' careers from their early years on Broadway and in London's West End. It will follow Fred's transition to Hollywood. There, his partnership with Ginger Rogers became one of the most recognized dance collaborations in cinema history. The film seeks to present the full scope of the Astaire legacy, including the sister's role in their early success.