No one had a voice quite like Cass Elliot. Better known to many as Mama Cass, she is fondly remembered more than 50 years after her sudden death for her work with The Mamas And The Papas and her solo career.
Her story will be told in the form of a biopic, which has been confirmed as in the works this year, and will star Baby Reindeer actress Jessica Gunning in the lead role of Cass Elliot.
Titled My Mama, Cass, the work will be based on the 2024 memoir of the same name by her only daughter, Owen Elliot-Kugell, who was seven when her mother passed.
Cass Elliot left behind a catalogue of adored music, both from the likes of California Dreamin’, Dream A Little Dream Of Me, and Monday, Monday with The Mamas And The Papas; as well as solo tracks such as Make Your Own Kind Of Music, Baby I’m Yours, The Good Times Are Coming, and more.
In a press release, it was stressed that the biopic would focus on the life and legacy of Mama Cass herself, and is not a biopic of The Mamas And The Papas. The Mamas And The Papas split in 1968, and Mama Cass forged her solo career before her passing at the age of 32 in 1973.
Jessica Gunning is the only confirmed cast member for My Mama, Cass as of now, though we do know that Emma Forrest is writing the screenplay, and it’s being produced by Veritas Entertainment – the same company that worked on A Complete Unknown. In the nearer future, Gunning is set to star in The Magic Faraway Tree, a film adaptation of the children’s novel by Enid Blyton, which is due for release on March 27.
‘My Mama, Cass’ is now in the works, but does not yet have a release date. Read more about the memoir of the same name by Cass Elliot’s daughter, Owen Elliot-Kugell, on the book’s Goodreads page.