Cass Elliot Biopic ‘My Mama Cass’ to Star ‘Baby Reindeer’ Breakout Jessica Gunning

Jessica Gunning, who achieved breakout fame through the Netflix series "Baby Reindeer," has been cast to play singer Cass Elliot in the upcoming biographical drama "My Mama Cass." The film, which adapts the memoir of the same name by Elliot's only child, Owen Elliot-Kugell, will focus squarely on the influential artist's personal life, enduring legacy, and musical contributions. Screenwriter Emma Forrest is penning the script, though a director has yet to be announced. Producers at Veritas Entertainment, the company behind the recent Bob Dylan film "A Complete Unknown," are currently presenting the project to potential buyers and financiers. A press release explicitly notes this is "not a Mamas & the Papas biopic," aiming instead for a more intimate portrait.

Cass Elliot, best known as the powerhouse vocalist for the 1960s folk-pop group the Mamas and the Papas, was a central social figure in Los Angeles's famed Laurel Canyon scene. Her home became a legendary hub for the era's musical elite; one famous photograph captures a casual gathering with Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, Eric Clapton, and members of the Monkees, with a then-unknown Mitchell providing the soundtrack. In 1967, the Mamas and the Papas served as the closing act for the historic Monterey Pop Festival—an event organized by the group's own John Phillips that famously catapulted Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and Janis Joplin to stardom.

Following the group's dissolution in 1968, Elliot pursued a solo career with notable successes, including hits like "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "Make Your Own Kind of Music." The latter has seen a remarkable modern revival, becoming a viral sensation on TikTok and even inspiring a parody sketch on "Saturday Night Live" about its unexpected comeback. She also became a familiar television presence, hosting her own variety show, "The Mama Cass Television Program," in 1969. A memorable episode featured her performing Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" alongside Joni Mitchell and Mary Travers of Peter, Paul & Mary.

A significant narrative thread in the film will involve Owen Elliot-Kugell's mission to correct a persistent and cruel myth about his mother's death. As the press release confirms, the movie will detail his efforts to dispel the false rumor that Elliot, who died at age 32, choked on a ham sandwich. The official cause of death was a heart attack. This focus underscores the film's commitment to reclaiming Elliot's true story from decades of sensationalized gossip.

For Jessica Gunning, this role marks a major step following her award-winning turn in "Baby Reindeer." Prior to that global Netflix hit, the actress had roles in series like "Law & Order: U.K." and "The Outlaws." Her portrayal of the complex stalker Martha Scott earned her Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics Choice awards. Since then, her career has accelerated with parts in Steven Soderbergh's "The Christophers," the fantasy film "The Magic Faraway Tree," and the upcoming Angelina Jolie-led comedy "Anxious People." Industry experts suggest this casting is a strategic move, leveraging Gunning's recent critical acclaim to introduce Elliot's story to a new generation. As one music biographer noted, "Cass was the gravitational center of that whole scene, but her story has often been overshadowed. Having a performer of Gunning's depth explore her life is a thrilling prospect."