Angelina Jolie is set to play the iconic opera soprano Maria Callas in the upcoming film Maria. The film, directed by renowned Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín, will premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 29.
Maria promises a unique perspective on the complex character of Callas. This highly anticipated film will also be available to stream on Netflix in the United States at a later date.
What is ‘Maria’ About?
Maria is a very personal and imaginative look at the life of Maria Callas, one of the most famous opera singers of all time. The film, set in 1970s Paris during Callas’ dying days, depicts a moment when the diva had lost her voice and was determined to reclaim it. As she reflects on a life spent performing for audiences all around the world, she decides to rediscover her voice and personality, preferring to sing for herself. The story dives into the psychological complexities of a woman who, despite her success, struggles to find personal fulfillment and realize her actual self.
Pablo Larraín’s third film, Maria, focuses on great women at critical points in their lives and is his most personal effort to date. This follows his critically successful films Jackie (2016) and Spencer (2021), which looked at the lives of Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana, respectively.
Who is in the Cast of ‘Maria’?
Maria features a stellar cast led by Angelina Jolie, whose diverse and award-winning career includes unforgettable performances in films like Girl, Interrupted, and Changeling. Joining Jolie are several acclaimed actors: Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power of the Dog, Dolemite Is My Name); Alba Rohrwacher (Hungry Hearts, Happy As Lazzaro); Pierfrancesco Favino (Padrenostro, Adagio); and Valeria Golino (For Your Love, The Beautiful Game).
Under Larraín’s superb direction, the ensemble brings to life the various people that intermingled with Callas’ world, complementing the film’s account of her final days.
When Will ‘Maria’ Premiere?
Maria will have its world premiere on August 29 at the Venice Film Festival, where it is among the 21 features competing for the festival’s top awards. Following its debut, the film will be released on Netflix, allowing audiences around the world to experience this intimate portrait of a true musical icon.
Behind the Scenes: The Making of ‘Maria’
Pablo Larraín and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Edward Lachman collaborated to create the film. Steven Knight, a screenwriter renowned for Peaky Blinders and Dirty Pretty Things wrote the story. Knight previously collaborated with Larraín on Spencer. Maria will benefit from this outstanding team’s artistic vision as well as their strong regard for the subject, resulting in a visually spectacular and emotionally powerful film.
The Legacy of Maria Callas
Maria Callas, born Maria Kalogeropoulos in New York to Greek immigrant parents, enthralled the globe with her unique voice and dramatic stage presence. Her career was marked by both honors and controversy, from her stringent performance requirements to her much-publicized romance with Aristotle Onassis, who subsequently left her for Jackie Kennedy. Despite her terrible death at the age of 53 in Paris, her legacy as one of the greatest opera singers continues.
The film Maria seeks to bring this amazing artist to modern audiences, emphasizing not only her enormous talent but also the personal struggles she suffered behind the scenes.
Read more about some of the other movies starring Angelina Jolie: Maleficent (2024), Those Who Wish Me Dead (2022), Salt (2010), and Changeling (2008).
