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Jessica Gunning Stars in My Mama Cass Biopic

2/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Jessica Gunning will star as Cass Elliot in the biopic My Mama Cass, based on memoir by Owen Elliot-Kugell.
Veritas Entertainment produces the film to explore Elliot's life beyond The Mamas & The Papas.
It will address the choking myth, clarifying she died of a heart attack at age 32, not choking on a sandwich.
Emma Forrest adapts the screenplay.
The project is being pitched to financiers.

History

Historical Context

The Mamas & The Papas formed in 1965, emerging as a significant influence in the 1960s music scene with hits like "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday." Their dynamic, marked by personal conflicts and affairs, led to their disbandment in 1971. The upcoming biopic, My Mama Cass, seeks to address misconceptions about Cass Elliot's heart attack death, highlighting the group's lasting impact on pop culture.

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Story summary

Jessica Gunning will star as Cass Elliot in the biopic My Mama Cass, based on memoir by Owen Elliot-Kugell.
Veritas Entertainment produces the film to explore Elliot's life beyond The Mamas & The Papas.
It will address the choking myth, clarifying she died of a heart attack at age 32, not choking on a sandwich.
Emma Forrest adapts the screenplay.
The project is being pitched to financiers.

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