Angelina Jolie To Star As Opera Legend Maria Callas In Pablo Larraín's Next Biopic
No, you are not dreaming, and yes, you are reading this headline correctly. Acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pablo Larraín is capping off his biopic trilogy with a movie about opera singer Maria Callas, starring none other than Angelina Jolie. According to the logline given to Variety, "Maria" will follow "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."
If that type of story sounds familiar to you, it's because it's not unlike the plotlines to Larraín's other biopics: 2016's "Jackie" starring Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy, and 2021's "Spencer" featuring Kristen Stewart as Diana Spencer. Both of those movies portrayed these female figures in a phase of finality, with "Jackie" taking place in the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy's assassination and "Spencer" being about the last Christmas holiday Diana spent with the Royal Family before her divorce from Prince Charles. Needless to say, Larraín's fascination with exploring the lives of sensationalized and complex women will not be ending yet.
"Having the chance to combine my two most deep and personal passions, cinema and opera, has been a long-awaited dream," the director wrote in a statement. "To do this with Angelina, a supremely brave and curious artist, is a fascinating opportunity. A true gift."
Jolie also provided her own statement, saying that she takes "take very seriously the responsibility to Maria's life and legacy. I will give all I can to meet the challenge."
What we know about Maria so far
"Maria" will mark the second collaboration between Larraín and screenwriter Steven Knight, who wrote and executive produced "Spencer." Juan de Dios Larraín, the director's brother and longtime creative partner, will produce the film under their Fabula Pictures label. Lorenzo Mieli and Jonas Dornbach are also signed on as producers, representing the Fremantle-owned Apartment Pictures and Komlizen Film, respectively.
As for the woman at the center of this story, Maria Callas, there will likely be a lot of ground covered in this biopic. While her life story is too lengthy to summarize in this article, she was an accomplished opera singer who was well-known for her strong soprano vocals. Among her most notable operatic performances were "Tosca," "Aida," "Macbeth," and "Lyric & Coloratura Arias." Despite her talent, her personal life often overshadowed her career, especially after her affair with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis was revealed (yes, the same Onassis that married Jackie Kennedy in 1968). Callas died in 1977 from a heart attack, an event that will likely be the framing device for Larraín and Jolie's collaboration.
"Maria" currently does not have a release date or distributor.