Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter have officially signed on to star alongside Tom Holland in Sony Pictures’ developing biographical film about legendary dancer and performer Fred Astaire. The casting announcements, initially reported by Deadline, confirm that the upcoming project has secured its primary leads ahead of production.
In the feature, Qualley will portray Adele Astaire, Fred’s older sister and original Broadway dance partner. Carpenter will step into the role of Ginger Rogers, the celebrated performer who later became Fred Astaire’s iconic screen and dance partner across numerous classic musical films.
Creative Team and Production Background
Paul King, known for directing Paddington and Wonka, is attached to direct the film. King co-wrote the screenplay alongside Steven Levenson, who previously worked on FX’s Fosse/Verdon. The script draws its foundation from Kathleen Riley’s biographical book, The Astaires: Fred & Adele, with Riley also participating as a script and story consultant.
Sony Pictures and producer Amy Pascal have been developing the project alongside Holland since 2021. Additional producers include Rachel O’Connor for Pascal Pictures, Ben Holden and Josh Hyams for Lightbulb Pictures, and Holland via his Billy17 banner.
Support from the Astaire Family
The production has received backing from members of the Astaire family. Ava Astaire McKenzie, Fred Astaire’s daughter, voiced her support for the creative direction of the film.
“I’m delighted to support this endeavor to celebrate the extraordinary careers and enduring legacy of my father and aunt, who were among the biggest musical stars of their era,” said Astaire McKenzie.
Her son, Tyler McKenzie, is actively involved as a consultant and co-producer on the biographical project, ensuring that the legacy of both performers is accurately represented for contemporary audiences.
Cast Backgrounds and Prior Attachments
The casting of Qualley as Adele Astaire marks a shift from earlier development paths. In 2023, reports indicated separate biographical projects about Fred Astaire were circulating, with Qualley previously associated with an alternate version starring Jamie Bell as Ginger Rogers. That separate iteration remains in development, while Qualley is now officially attached to Holland’s Sony feature.
Qualley’s recent credits include prominent roles in The Substance, Maid, and Poor Things. Meanwhile, Carpenter is a multi-Grammy-winning recording artist who first established her acting background through projects like Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World and films such as Work It.
Tom Holland, who began his entertainment career playing the titular role in London’s West End production of Billy Elliot The Musical, has expressed his intention to perform all the movie’s dance numbers himself without the use of body doubles, aiming to shoot the musical sequences in single continuous takes to honor Astaire’s traditional style of performance.
