© Pablo Larraín
Netflix has picked up Pablo Larraín‘s biopic Maria, which stars Angelina Jolie as the legendary opera singer Maria Callas, for release in the US. The streamer also dropped a first look at Larraín’s latest Venice-bound biopic.
During the festival runup, the streamer won a bidding war with at least one major distributor. Netflix appears to be a natural place for the movie, which will be a contender in the awards season. Larraín’s trilogy, which revolves around inspiring female protagonists, started with Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, and Jackie, starring Natalie Portman as Kennedy Onassis, both garnered best actress nominations.
“I’m excited to partner again with the Netflix team who care so passionately about movies. This film is my most personal work yet,” Larraín said in a statement. “It is a creative imagining and psychological portrait of Maria Callas who, after dedicating her life to performing for audiences around the world, finally decides to find her own voice, her own identity, and sing for herself. I’m deeply honored to tell this story and share it with audiences worldwide like Maria did with her life.”
Callas, an American-born Greek soprano singer who became one of the most famous opera singers of the 20th century, is explored in the film, which is based on true accounts. In a 1970s Paris setting, Maria chronicles her final days, besides Jolie, the film also stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alba Rohrwacher, Pierfrancesco Favino and Valeria Golino.
When Larraín said to Variety two years ago, Larraín said it combined his “two most deep and personal passions, cinema and opera. To do this with Angelina, a supremely brave and curious artist, is a fascinating opportunity.
The film was written by Oscar nominee and Peaky Blinders scribe Steven Knight, who previously penned Larraín’s film Spencer. Edward Lachman (El Conde, Carol) serves as cinematographer.
Maria is produced by Juan de Dios Larraín, Lorenzo Mieli and Jonas Dornbach, and hails from production companies The Apartment (a Fremantle Company), Fabula and Komplizen & Fremantle.
This is Netflix’s second film with Larraín directing following El Conde (2023), which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography. Maria marks the seventh production partnership between Fabula and Netflix, including Maite Alberdi’s upcoming film In Her Place.
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