Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter Join Tom Holland in Fred Astaire Biopic

Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter have joined Tom Holland in Sony Pictures' yet-to-be-titled Fred Astaire biopic, the studio's casting announcement confirmed. Golden Globe nominee Qualley ("Maid," "The Substance," "Love of Your Life") will star as Adele Astaire, Fred's sister and original dance partner. Grammy winner Sabrina Carpenter will portray Ginger Rogers.

As previously announced, Holland will play the debonair dancer in the film, directed by Paul King and produced by Amy Pascal. Fred and Adele Astaire were major stars on Broadway and London's West End before Fred became one of cinema's greatest stars, famously paired with Rogers.

"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," King said in a statement. "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."

King directs from a script he co-wrote with Steven Levenson, based on Kathleen Riley's book "The Astaires: Fred & Adele." Riley serves as a script and story consultant on the project.

Fred Astaire's family has endorsed the film. "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," said Ava Astaire McKenzie, Fred Astaire's daughter. "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."

Her son, Tyler McKenzie, a consultant and co-producer on the project, added: "Guided by the incredible filmmaking team led by director Paul King, writer Steven Levenson, producer Amy Pascal and Tom Holland, I know their legacy will be beautifully brought to life for a whole new generation."

Fred Astaire starred in more than 30 film musicals across a seven-decade career, in addition to his stage work on Broadway and the West End. He is usually remembered for his pairings with Rogers, including the classics "Top Hat" (1935), "The Gay Divorcee" (1934) and "Swing Time" (1936).

Holland has been attached to the role for five years. After spending the summer dominating the box office with "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "The Odyssey" — the two highest-grossing films of 2026 — he has been rehearsing for the part.

"I'm diving back into the dance studio," Holland said during a recent appearance on "Good Morning America."

Before he became a Marvel superhero, Holland began his acting career on the London stage, playing the title role in "Billy Elliot the Musical" on the West End from 2008 to 2010. He has said he intends to perform all of the dancing himself. "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," Holland said.

Holland produces the film through his Billy 17 banner, alongside Pascal, Rachel O'Connor, and Ben Holden and Josh Hyams for Lightbulb Pictures. Executive producers include Harry Holland and Will South (Billy17), Will Clarke and Andy Mayson (Altitude Films) and Levenson.

Deadline first reported the news of Qualley and Carpenter's involvement. The film has no release date yet, but with King — whose credits include the "Paddington" films — directing a cast led by one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, the project positions the Astaire story for a major theatrical treatment.