Netflix has acquired Pablo Larraín‘s biopic “Maria,” starring Angelina Jolie as the legendary opera singer Maria Callas, for U.S. distribution.
“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, decides finally 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.”
The streamer won a bidding war with at least one major distributor in the run up to the festival. Netflix feels like a natural home for the movie which it will position in the awards season. The buzzy film completes Larraín’s trilogy centered around inspiring female protagonists. “Spencer” starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana and “Jackie” with Natalie Portman as Kennedy Onassis, both garnered best actress nominations.
Based on true accounts, the film explores the life of Callas, the American-born Greek soprano singer and one of the most famous opera singers of the 20th century. “Maria” charts her final days in 1970s Paris, and also stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alba Rohrwacher, Pierfrancesco Favino and Valeria Golino.
Jolie’s costumes are based on real garments worn by Callas, including vintage fur items from Massimo Cantini Parrini’s archive collection.
When he announced the casting of Jolie 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.
“We are delighted that Pablo Larraín’s extraordinary piece of filmmaking, ‘Maria,’ with its incredible performance by Angelina Jolie, has found its US home at Netflix,” Fremantle’s Andrea Scrosati said. “I know they will give it the best possible support and we are grateful to Glen and his FilmNation team for spearheading the sale.”
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.”
“I’m excited that we are continuing to work with Pablo and Fabula — this is our seventh project with them, most recently with ‘El Conde’ and they are producing the upcoming ‘In Her Place,’” Netflix’s film chairman Dan Lin said in a statement. “Pablo continues a remarkable streak of exploring iconic women through film, this time with the incredible Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas.”
The film will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Aug. 29.
From Variety US