Tom Holland has officially found his dance partners. Sabrina Carpenter and Margaret Qualley are joining him in Sony Pictures upcoming, yet-to-be-titled Fred Astaire biopic, bringing together quite the trio for a film centred around one of Hollywood’s most famous dancers.
Tom will play Fred Astaire, while Qualley takes on the role of his older sister and original dance partner, Adele Astaire. Sabrina will step into the shoes of Ginger Rogers, the actress and dancer who became one of Fred’s most famous screen partners.
And yes, with Sabrina playing Ginger Rogers and Tom Holland planning to do his own dancing, this could be one stylish trip back to Hollywood’s golden age.
Before Ginger Rogers, There Was Adele Astaire
While Fred Astaire is widely remembered for his Hollywood career, and his partnership with Ginger Rogers, the upcoming film will also put a spotlight on the important role his sister played in his early life.
Fred and Adele Astaire were major stars on Broadway and London’s West End, performing together before Fred went on to become one of cinema’s biggest musical stars.
Director Paul King, known for Paddington, said he was honoured to tell the story of Fred and his “original dance partner” Adele.
King also pointed out that while Fred’s dancing with Ginger Rogers lives on through film, no footage of Adele dancing survives, making the task of bringing her work back to life on screen particularly meaningful.
Qualley comes to the role after earning major recognition for projects including The Substance, Maid, and Fosse/Verdon.
Sabrina Carpenter Is Stepping Into Ginger Rogers’ Dancing Shoes
Sabrina will portray Ginger Rogers, who starred alongside Fred Astraire in several classic films.
Their famous collaborations included Swing Time (1936), The Gay Divorcee (1934) and Top Hat (1935).
Sabrina may currently be one of music’s biggest names, with two Grammys and millions of records sold, but she is no stranger to acting. Her previous film credits include Work It and The Hate U Give.
Fred, meanwhile, had a career that lasted seven decades, appearing in more than 30 film musicals on top of his work on Broadway and the West End.
Tom Holland Is Heading Back To The Dance Studio
Tom Holland has actually been attached to the Fred Ashtaire project for five years, and things are now moving forward following his big 2026 summer with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, the two highest-growing films of the year.
Now, he is trading superhero action for dance rehearsals. During a recent appearance on Good Morning America, Tom revealed, “I’m diving back into the dance studio.”
The role also takes him back to his own stage roots. Before becoming Spider-Man, Tom played the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical on London’s West End from 2008 to 2010.
And he has an ambitious plan for the Fred Astraire film: he wants to perform all of the dancing himself without doubles. Tom has also said he hopes to film the dance sequences in single shots, similar to how Astaire’s performances were filmed.
The Astaire Family Is Supporting The Film
The film is being made with support from members of Fred Astaire’s family; his daughter, Ava Astaire McKenzie, said she was happy to support a project celebrating the careers and legacy of her father and aunt, who were among the biggest musical stars of their time.
Her son Tyler McKenzie is serving as a consultant and co-producer on the project. He said he believes the filmmaking team will bring Fred and Adele’s legacy to life for a new generation.
The screenplay is written by Paul King and Steven Levenson and is based on Kathleen Riley’s book The Astaires: Fred & Adele. Riley is also working on the projects as a script the story consultant.
A Major Team Is Behind The Film
Tom is not only starring in the movie but also producing through his Billy17 banner.
Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor are producing for Pascal Pictures, alongside Ben Holden and Josh Hyams for Lightbulb Pictures. Executive producers including Harry Holland and Will South for Billy17, Will Clarke and Andy Mayson for Altitude Films, as well as Steven Levenson.
With Tom Holland as Fred Astaire, Margaret Qualley as Adele Astaire and Sabrina Carpenter as Ginger Rogers, the film will explore both the famous Hollywood partnership audiences remember and the sibling partnership that came before it.
And with Tom already back in dance rehearsals, it looks like the Fred Astaire story is finally getting ready to hit the floor.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
