Pop star Sabrina Carpenter will star as Ginger Rogers opposite Tom Holland’s Fred Astaire in a long-awaited Sony Pictures biopic directed by Paul King. Announced in September 2026, the project will also feature Margaret Qualley as Astaire’s older sister and original dance partner, Adele Astaire.
Casting Sabrina Carpenter and Margaret Qualley Alongside Tom Holland
Tom Holland’s path to playing Fred Astaire has been a quiet fixture of industry chatter since December 2021, when the actor let slip that producer Amy Pascal had FaceTimed him about the script while he was in the bath. Five years later, the untitled Sony Pictures project has locked down its principal trio.
Pop icon Sabrina Carpenter is set to return to feature films for the first time since 2022, stepping into the legendary dancing shoes of Ginger Rogers. She will appear opposite Holland as Astaire. Meanwhile, Margaret Qualley has signed on to portray Adele Astaire, Fred’s older sister and his original dance partner on the New York and London stage before Hollywood ever called.
The casting brings together performers from distinct corners of contemporary entertainment. Before charting her massive music career with hits like Espresso
and Taste
, Carpenter built an acting resume on Disney Channel and in films such as The Hate U Give and Emergency. Qualley recently appeared alongside Carpenter in the music video for House Tour
, which served as a centerpiece of Carpenter’s Old Hollywood-inspired Coachella performance.
Paul King Directs a Script Rooted in Kathleen Riley’s Biography
Behind the camera, the film enlists director Paul King, best known for his work on the Paddington films and Wonka. King co-wrote the screenplay with Steven Levenson, adapting Kathleen Riley’s seminal biography The Astaires: Fred & Adele. Riley is also attached to the production as a story and script consultant.
The creative team made a deliberate choice to center the narrative on the sibling dynamic that defined Astaire’s early career.
Estate Support and Production Backing From Billy17
The biopic arrives with the explicit blessing of the performer’s family. Fred Astaire’s daughter, Ava Astaire McKenzie, issued a statement expressing her delight at the project, noting that the story of their partnership both on and off the stage is in the best care. Her children, Tyler McKenzie, also serve as consultants and co-producers.
Production is being spearheaded by Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor for Pascal Pictures, alongside Ben Holden and Josh Hyams of Lightbulb Pictures. Tom Holland is also producing under his Billy17 banner, tying his off-screen responsibilities directly to the physical demands of the role.
Tom Holland’s Staging Ambitions and Dance Rehearsal Reality
For Holland, the role represents a return to his theatrical roots. The actor famously launched his career playing the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical on London’s West End. However, stepping back into professional choreography after a long hiatus has proved daunting.
While Holland balances the physical preparation alongside commitments to other major studio properties, the production has yet to set an official release date or begin principal photography.
