Deadline broke the casting news on Friday. Paul King, the director behind Wonka and the Paddington films, will direct from a script he wrote with Steven Levenson, based on Kathleen Riley’s book The Astaires: Fred & Adele.
The film traces Fred Astaire’s journey with his sister Adele, from their Midwestern vaudeville act to Broadway and the West End, then follows Fred’s Hollywood ascent alongside new dance partner Ginger Rogers after Adele steps away from the stage.
Qualley, a classically trained ballet dancer, takes on Adele, while Carpenter steps into Ginger Rogers’ shoes. Holland, whose own career began on the West End stage in Billy Elliot, has been attached to play Fred Astaire for years as the long-gestating project comes together at Sony Pictures.
Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor are producing. The film has the blessing of the Astaire family: Fred Astaire’s daughter Ava Astaire McKenzie supports the project, and his grandson Tyler McKenzie is on board as a consultant and co-producer.
No release date has been announced. The film is still untitled.