Tom Holland, Qualley, Carpenter Cast in Astaire Biopic

The Spider‑Man star will play Fred Astaire alongside Margaret Qualley as sister Adele and Sabrina Carpenter as Ginger Rogers, under Paul King’s direction and Amy Pascal’s production.

Tom Holland is set to step into the shoes of Fred Astaire, the legendary dancer‑actor whose name still conjures images of effortless elegance. The casting announcement landed on Thursday, confirming that Margaret Qualley will portray his older sister Adele Astaire and Sabrina Carpenter will take on the role of his most famous on‑screen partner, Ginger Rogers.

The film, still untitled, is being shepherded by Paul King, the director who recently delivered the whimsical hit Wonka. King told The Hollywood Reporter that he feels a deep responsibility to bring both Fred and the largely forgotten Adele to the screen. "I am thrilled and honored to have been entrusted with telling the story of Fred Astaire and his original dance partner — his big sister Adele, to the big screen," he said.

Production is a joint effort between Amy Pascal, the veteran behind Holland’s recent Spider‑Man outings, and Holland’s own Billy 17 banner. Rachel O’Connor joins Pascal as a producer, while Ben Holden and Josh Hyams represent Lightbulb Pictures. Executive producers also include Harry Holland, Will South, Will Clarke, Andy Mayson and Steven Levenson, who co‑wrote the script with King.

The screenplay leans on Kathleen Riley’s biography The Astaires: Fred & Adele, with Riley herself acting as a story consultant. Fred Astaire’s daughter, Ava Astaire McKenzie, publicly backed the project, noting that the film will celebrate the careers of both her father and aunt. Her son, Tyler McKenzie, is listed as a consultant and co‑producer, adding a familial touch to the production.

Qualley arrives fresh from a string of acclaimed TV and film work, including a Golden Globe nod for The Substance and an Emmy nomination for Maid. Her dance chops are well documented, having trained from a young age. Carpenter, a two‑time Grammy winner, brings Broadway experience and a pop‑star pedigree, having stepped away from acting after Tall Girl 2 to focus on music. Both women have spoken about the challenge of embodying icons whose moves have become part of cinema history.

Holland, who cut his teeth on the West End in Billy Elliot the Musical, says he plans to perform all the dance sequences himself, eschewing doubles. "I have a desire to use no doubles, to do all of the dancing, to shoot those dances in one shot. How he would have done it," he told Good Morning America.

The project has been in the works for nearly five years, with Holland first revealing his involvement back in 2021. With his recent box‑office triumphs Spider‑Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey topping global charts, Holland’s star power adds commercial weight to a story that blends classic Hollywood glamour with a modern sensibility.

Fans of classic musical cinema are already buzzing, curious to see how the film will balance the glitz of Astaire’s Hollywood era with the lesser‑known stage brilliance of Adele. The inclusion of Carpenter as Rogers also raises questions about how the chemistry between the two legendary dance partners will be re‑imagined for a new generation.

While the exact release window remains under wraps, insiders suggest a 2028 launch, giving the team ample time to perfect the choreography and secure the period‑specific sets that will transport audiences back to the golden age of song and dance.

The Astaire biopic promises to be more than a nostalgic tribute. It aims to revive a forgotten sibling partnership and showcase the sheer athleticism that defined an era. As the cast rehearses and the script tightens, the industry will be watching to see whether the film can match the timeless allure of its subjects.

What’s next? Production is slated to begin early next year, with principal photography expected to run through the summer. Keep an eye on official updates as the first look and teaser drop, likely in late 2027.