And now for a drama of operatic proportions: Pablo Larraín’s third in a series of biopics following enigmatic women. Following Spencer (starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Di) and Jackie (starring Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy) comes Maria starring Angelina Jolie as the legendary soprano Maria Callas. The film is written by Steven Knight, who recently worked with Larraín on Spencer. “Having the chance to combine my two most deep and personal passions, cinema and opera, has been a long-awaited dream,” Larraín said in a statement. “To do this with Angelina, a supremely brave and curious artist, is a fascinating opportunity. A true gift.” Below, everything we know about the upcoming film, from clip to ’Flix.
Let’s have a sneak peek.
The above clip circulated on social media on August 28, and the phrase “I’m in the mood for adulation” promptly changed the brain chemistry of gay men across the country. Otherwise, the film looks appropriately dramatic given the Grande Dame being portrayed and the Grande Dame portraying her.
Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas in the first clip from Pablo Larrain's #Maria. pic.twitter.com/mr0Iivu1hA
— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) August 28, 2024
Angelina Jolie’s slayful eyewear ad first-look images are out.
One thing Jolie is gonna do is eat up a pair of thick-rimmed, bug-eye glasses. In the first-look images, we see the opera icon looking a bit troubled and absolutely chic in her large spectacles paired with a beige cable-knit sweater. She’s standing behind a sheer lace curtain as if she was caught during a private moment. A different image sees Jolie looking out a window, appearing pleased in her white fur-lined coat and wide-brimmed lace hat. Don’t worry, no animals were harmed in the creation of her wardrobe. Though the costumes are based on real garments worn by Callas, including vintage items from Massimo Cantini Parrini’s archive collection, the team consulted with PETA to not use new fur, per Variety.
Who else is in the cast?
Other players in Larraín’s opera include Valeria Golino (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) as Maria Callas’s sister and Haluk Bilginer (Winter Sleep), who plays Callas’s abusive lover Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis. Pierfrancesco Favino (Adagio), Alba Rohrwacher (La Chimera), and Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power of the Dog) round out the bill.
What can we expect, plot-wise?
According to Variety, Maria “tells the tumultuous, beautiful, and tragic story of the life of the world’s greatest opera singer, relived and re-imagined during her final days in 1970s Paris.” “I take very seriously the responsibility to Maria’s life and legacy,” Angelina Jolie stated. “I will give all I can to meet the challenge.” The American-born, Greek-raised Callas was a globally renowned diva, in the original sense of the word, at a time when an opera singer could still be a household name. Although she was married to wealthy industrialist Giovanni Battista Meneghini from 1949 to 1959, Callas’s most notable relationship was with shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, who subjected Callas to domestic violence and assault, according to posthumous letters. Onassis would go on to marry Jacqueline Kennedy, which means Maria is technically the second entry in Larraín’s Jackie cinematic universe.
How can I see this thing?
Casually pop in to the Venice Film Festival, where it premieres on August 29. Netflix acquired the film the day before, leaving its release date up in the air. (Boo, jeer.) If previous Netflix prestige projects like May December are any indication, Maria will likely screen briefly in limited theaters (in order to qualify for awards) before making its way over to Big Red this winter. Prepare the acoustics in your apartment.
This post has been updated.
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