By Variety | Created at 2024-09-26 15:25:10 | Updated at 2024-09-30 09:22:50
3 days ago
Angelina Jolie is opera icon Maria Callas in the first trailer for “Maria,” Pablo Larraín‘s latest biopic. Netflix has debuted the first trailer for the acclaimed film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and received an eight-minute standing ovation, launching Jolie and the feature into the awards race.
The actor plays the American-born Greek soprano Callas, who died from a heart attack at the age of 53. As suggested by the time-spanning trailer, “Maria” will cover the life story of the singer. Along with Jolie, the cast also includes Valeria Golino (“Rain Man”), Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”), Haluk Bilginer (“Winter Sleep), Alba Rohrwacher (“My Brilliant Friend”), Pierfrancesco Favino (“World War Z”), Jeremy Wheeler (“The Crown”) and Rebecka Johnston (“Midsommar”).
“Maria” is directed by Pablo Larraín (“El Conde”) and written by “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight. The pair previously teamed on “Spencer,” the Princess Diana feature that earned a best actress Oscar nomination for star Kristen Stewart. Jonas Dornbach, Janine Jackowski, Lorenzo Mieli and Larraín’s brother, Juan de Dios Larraín, are producers.
“Having the chance to combine my two most deep and personal passions, cinema and opera, has been a long-awaited dream,” Pablo Larraín previously said in a statement on the film. “To do this with Angelina, a supremely brave and curious artist, is a fascinating opportunity. A true gift.”
“I take very seriously the responsibility to Maria’s life and legacy. I will give all I can to meet the challenge,” Jolie previously said in a statement. “Pablo Larraín is a director I have long admired. To be allowed the chance to tell more of Maria’s story with him, and with a script by Steven Knight, is a dream.”
Production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas worked in collaboration with Larraín in an effort to capture both the stylistic tone of the period and surrealist musical sequences. Filming for “Maria” began in Budapest in October 2023 with additional filming locations including Paris, Greece and Milan.
“Maria” will be released in select theaters on Nov. 27, with a streaming debut on Netflix following on Dec. 11.
