Tom Holland to Lead Fred Astaire Biopic With Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter

Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter joined Tom Holland in Sony Pictures' untitled Fred Astaire biopic. The Spider-Man star will play the dancer and actor in a film that's been in development for nearly five years.

Qualley will portray Adele Astaire, Fred's older sister and Broadway partner. Carpenter will become Ginger Rogers, who starred with Astaire in multiple Hollywood films during the 1930s.

Paul King will direct the new movie. He co-wrote the script with Steven Levenson, drawing from a book by Kathleen Riley, The Astaires: Fred & Adele.

"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, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "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."

Fred and Adele performed on Broadway and London's West End before Fred moved to Hollywood. Rogers received an Academy Award for Best Actress in Kitty Foyle, and she became one of the biggest stars during Hollywood's Golden Age. Astaire starred in more than 30 musicals over a seven-decade career, including Swing Time, The Gay Divorcee, and Top Hat.

Amy Pascal and Rachel O'Connor will produce. Tom Holland is producing on behalf of his company, Billy17, with Ben Holden and Josh Hyams for Lightbulb Pictures. Ava Astaire McKenzie, Fred's daughter, is supporting the project, while her son, Tyler McKenzie, serves as consultant and co-producer.

Holland started his career as a stage dancer, playing the title role in Billy Elliot The Musical on London's West End from 2008 to 2010. He appeared this summer in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has made more than $2 billion worldwide, and The Odyssey. These are the highest-grossing movies of 2026. Holland said earlier this summer on Good Morning America that he plans to do all of the dancing himself. 

Qualley earned a Golden Globe nomination last year for The Substance with Demi Moore. She also received Emmy nominations for Fosse/Verdon and Maid. Carpenter is a two-time GRAMMY winner who received her first Primetime Emmy nomination for The Muppet Show.

Sony hasn't announced a release date yet. Cameras should roll in January.