Sabrina Carpenter to Play Ginger Rogers in Fred Astaire Biopic

According to reports from Deadline, Carpenter—who has been making massive waves in the music industry following the release of her acclaimed album Man’s Best Friend—has been tapped to bring Rogers’ effortless glamour, unmatched comedic timing, and peerless dancing prowess to life. She will star alongside Tom Holland, who is set to take on the monumental role of Fred Astaire, embodying the Old Hollywood triple-threat who revolutionized cinematic dance. Meanwhile, Margaret Qualley has been cast as Adele Astaire, the performer’s older sister and early Broadway partner, rounding out a meticulously curated lead cast.

Director Paul King, widely celebrated for his distinct visual style and heartwarming storytelling in films like Paddington and Wonka, expressed immense enthusiasm for the casting and the unique historical weight of the project. In a statement regarding the film, King highlighted the contrasting legacies of the subjects at the heart of the narrative, shedding light on why this particular story demands such a talented ensemble.

"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," King shared. "The cinematic challenge of bringing to life these icons of the 20th century is one that I could not imagine without Tom Holland, Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter by my side."

The ambitious project aims to explore the intricate dynamics, dazzling heights, and behind-the-scenes realities of some of the 20th century’s most celebrated entertainers. While Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers went on to immortalize themselves in a series of iconic musical films for RKO Radio Pictures—defining elegance and romantic chemistry with every step in classics like Top Hat and Swing Time—the early roots of the Astaire legacy began on the stage alongside Adele. Adele Astaire was a massive sensation on Broadway and London’s West End during the 1920s before retiring from show business following her marriage, leaving behind a legendary theatrical reputation that has long fascinated dance historians due to the tragic absence of surviving moving image records.

For Sabrina Carpenter, this major cinematic casting announcement caps off an extraordinarily stacked and career-defining year. The multi-talented artist has maintained an unrelenting momentum across both music and television, punctuating her rise to global superstardom with historic achievements and high-profile moments. Over the past few months alone, Carpenter delivered a show-stopping performance at the Grammy Awards, cemented her status as a premier live act by headlining the first night of Coachella, and crossed generational divides by collaborating with pop royalty Madonna.

In addition to her dominating presence in contemporary music and high-fashion spaces, Carpenter’s versatility as a performer and producer has continued to earn her critical acclaim. Earlier in the award season, she secured her first Emmy Award, taking home the trophy for executive producing and performing in The Muppet Show, further proving her capability to command diverse entertainment mediums. Her musical output has likewise been met with widespread praise; her album Man’s Best Friend was recently recognized as a standout cultural touchstone, landing at No. 17 on prestigious end-of-year lists celebrating the best pop albums of 2025.

As pre-production moves forward under Paul King’s direction, the untitled biopic stands as a bridge between classic Hollywood mythology and modern superstardom. By pairing Holland’s dynamic physicality with Carpenter’s magnetic screen presence and Qualley’s deeply rooted background in dance, the film promises to offer a fresh, emotionally resonant look at the people behind the legendary archival footage. With filming details and a prospective release timeline still under wraps, the project has instantly become a focal point of anticipation for cinephiles and fans of the cast alike.