Sabrina Carpenter and Margaret Qualley join Tom Holland’s Fred Astaire biopic

So, remember when Tom Holland first popped up saying he'd be slipping into Fred Astaire's iconic dancing shoes for a big-screen biopic? Felt like forever ago, didn't it? Well, the project has finally shaken off the cobwebs, and now we've finally got some real movement—including two headline additions to the cast.

Big Names Join the Dance

According to Deadline, Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter have signed on for the upcoming Fred Astaire movie, locking in some proper star power. Qualley, who's made a name for herself with some genuinely impressive turns lately, will play Adele Astaire—Fred's older sister and his first big stage partner. Carpenter is in as Ginger Rogers, the other half of one of Hollywood’s most legendary dance duos.

So, if you've been waiting for a musical biopic that actually bothers with the family history—and not just the greatest hits—this one's going all in. Adele Astaire was a massive part of Fred’s early career, but here’s the odd bit: barely anyone these days has seen her in action, since absolutely no footage survives of her dancing. It’s either enormously poetic or just plain tragic, depending how you look at it.

Director Paul King put it like this in a statement about the project: '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. 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. The cinematic challenge of bringing to life these icons of the twentieth century is one that I could not imagine without Tom Holland, Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter by my side.'

Who's Making This Thing?

Paul King (the man behind the Paddington films, so safe hands there) is directing and also had a hand in the script, working alongside Steven Levenson. The story is drawn from Kathleen Riley's book, 'The Astaires: Fred & Adele'. Amy Pascal and Rachel O'Connor are producing, with Holland himself getting in on the action via his Billy17 production company.

Ava Astaire McKenzie, Fred's daughter, is very much on board. Her statement: '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. With Kathleen Riley’s seminal biography as its foundation, and the creative team in place, the story of their partnership both on and off the stage is in the best care.'

The family involvement doesn't stop with Ava; her son Tyler is consulting on the film as well, and has offered his approval to the project and the folks at the helm.

• Tom Holland as Fred Astaire
• Margaret Qualley as Adele Astaire
• Sabrina Carpenter as Ginger Rogers
• Directed by Paul King, co-written with Steven Levenson
• Based on Riley’s definitive Astaire biography
• Produced by Amy Pascal, Rachel O’Connor, Tom Holland (Billy17)

If you get the sense this one's been a labour of love for Holland, you'd be spot on. He's been banging on about wanting to play Astaire for a good while, and now he's finally got the team and the sign-off from the family to give it a proper go.