Pablo Larraín’s Maria: Angelina Jolie Stars as Opera Legend Maria Callas

They say that in life there are three guarantees: death, taxes, and that if there is a complicated woman in need of a stylishly done, painstakingly constructed biopic, then Pablo Larraín is the man to make it. Having sensitively explored the grief of Jackie Kennedy in the wake of JFK’s death with 2017’s Natalie Portman starrer Jackie, and then made a haunting portrait of Princess Diana’s vulnerability with Kristen Stewart in 2021’s Spencer, Larraín has enlisted the services of Angelina Jolie to help tell the story of fêted opera singer Maria Callas in the aptly titled Maria. Check out the first teaser for the film below:

A Glimpse of the Film

“Maria, what do you want to sing?” asks a pianist as Jolie’s Maria looks out on a grand, empty music hall. From there, we get shots of Callas – in black and white, on vintage film, in a plethora of gorgeous outfits and under various levels of scrutiny from the public and, so it seems, herself — over an ethereal, elegiac orchestral version of Puccini’s ‘Un bel dì, vedremo’ from Madama Butterfly. It’s a short, tone-setting teaser for a movie about a woman whose personal struggles and associated scandals have at times seemed to cast a shadow over her extraordinary voice, but a powerful one nevertheless.

A Star-Studded Cast

Here’s the official, albeit brief, synopsis: “Maria will tell the tumultuous, beautiful, and tragic story of the life of the world’s greatest female opera singer, relived, and reimagined during her final days in 1970s Paris.” To help tell that story is an impressive ensemble, among whose talents include Pierfrancesco Favino (The Hummingbird), Alba Rohrwacher (La Chimera), Haluk Bilginer (Winter Sleep), Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power Of The Dog) and Valeria Golino (Portrait Of A Lady on Fire).

Release Date and More

With Larraín at the helm and Jolie front and centre, whether or not opera is your, *ahem*, aria of expertise or not, we’ll be seated for Maria when it hits UK cinemas on 10 January, 2025.

Conclusion

Pablo Larraín’s latest biopic promises to be a powerful and moving exploration of the life of opera legend Maria Callas, with Angelina Jolie bringing the iconic singer to life on the big screen. With a talented cast and a rich, elegiac score, Maria is shaping up to be a must-see for fans of opera and film alike.

FAQs

What is the release date of Maria? The film is set to hit UK cinemas on 10 January, 2025.

Who stars in the film? Angelina Jolie plays the title role of Maria Callas, alongside an impressive ensemble cast including Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Valeria Golino.

What is the plot of the film? The film tells the story of Maria Callas’s life, relived and reimagined during her final days in 1970s Paris.