Maria Callas biopic: all the information as official trailer released

25 October 2024, 11:51 | Updated: 25 October 2024, 11:55

Watch the trailer for Maria

Maria Callas, arguably the 20th century’s most influential opera singer, will be portrayed by Angelina Jolie in a new film by Pablo Larraín. We take a closer look at the details after the release of the official trailer.

Angelina Jolie is starring as ‘La Divina’, the legendary opera diva Maria Callas, in a new biopic from Chilean director Pablo Larraín.

Maria is set during the singer’s final days in 1970s Paris, and is based on “true accounts” of Callas’ life – one filled with music, passion and tragedy. The film is due to be released in 2024 on Netflix.

The biopic is directed by Larraín (Jackie) and with a screenplay by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders). Larraín and Knight previously collaborated on the 2021 biopic Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart as Diana, former Princess of Wales.

Larraín added: “Having the chance to combine my two most deep and personal passions, cinema and opera, has been a long-awaited dream. To do this with Angelina, a supremely brave and curious artist, is a fascinating opportunity. A true gift.”

As a new trailer is released (watch below), here’s everything you need to know so far about Maria.

Read more: First look at ‘Maria’ biopic as Angelina Jolie becomes legendary opera star Maria Callas

Angelina Jolie stars as Maria Callas in MARIA promo clip

What is the plot of ‘Maria’?

Maria will tell “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”, according to a press release.

Hailed by Leonard Bernstein as “the Bible of opera”, Callas remains one of opera’s most adored figures.

A leading exponent of the bel canto works of Bellini and Rossini, the New York-born Greek soprano was also widely celebrated for her Verdi and Puccini interpretations; a recording of her singing Tosca in 1952 is considered unparalleled.

Callas’ story has also been coloured by events in her personal life, including her relationship with Aristotle Onassis who left her unexpectedly to marry Jackie Kennedy, the former first lady of the United States.

The singer spent the last years of her life living in isolation in Paris and died of a heart attack aged just 53.

Read more: Who was Maria Callas and why is she one of the greatest opera singers of all time?

Who is cast in ‘Maria’?

Angelina Jolie will play the American-born, Greek soprano Maria Callas. The American actor told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022: “I take very seriously the responsibility to Maria’s life and legacy. I will give all I can to meet the challenge.

“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.”

The cast also includes Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Kodi Smit-McPhee (Elvis) and Valeria Golino (Portrait of a Lady on Fire).

What is the music in ‘Maria’ and will Angelina Jolie be singing?

Angelina Jolie revealed she trained for “almost seven months” to give a convincing impression of being an opera star.

In the biopic, we will hear some of Jolie’s voice, mixed with Maria Callas recordings.

Director Pablo Larraín explained to Associated Press: “Opera requires a very particular style of singing, the pitch, the colour, the breathing, the posture.

“We recorded Angie’s voice and we mixed it with Maria – different levels, sometimes it’s a tiny bit of Angie and mostly Maria,” he added. “Sometimes it’s more. But it’s always there.”

It is likely Callas’ signature aria ‘Casta Diva’ from Bellini’s opera Norma will feature in the film. Jolie revealed at a press conference that her relationship to the word ‘diva’ had changed through ‘Casta Diva’, saying: “I think I’ve relearned that word through Maria and ‘Casta Diva’. And I have a new relationship to it.”

Read more: ‘Maestro’: Everything you need to know about Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic

When will ‘Maria’ be released?

‘Maria’ will be released in the US in select cinemas on 27 November and stream on Netflix on 11 December. In the UK, it will be released in cinemas on 10 January 2025.

Filming for Maria began in October 2023 and wrapped at the end of December.

Shooting took place over eight weeks across Europe, in Paris (France), Greece, Budapest (Hungary) and Milan (Italy). Hungary is notably where Jolie made her own directing debut 13 years prior, as she filmed the 2011 war drama, In the Land of Blood and Honey, in the cities of Budapest and Esztergom in 2010.

The biopic is produced by Fabula Pictures’ Juan de Dios Larraín, Fremantle Company’s Apartment Pictures’ Lorenzo Mieli, and Komlizen Film’s Jonas Dornbach.