The official teaser trailer of Pablo Larrain‘s MARIA, a new biographical psychological drama film starring Angelina as opera singer Maria Callas, has been released.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria is reportedly set during Callas’ final years in the 1970s when she was living in Paris.
Production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas worked with Larraín on the visual concept, helping fuse the 1940 to 1970s style with the surreal musical sequences. According to the film’s producers, no new fur was sourced for Jolie’s garments which are based on Callas’ original garments, with consultation with animal rights groups such as PETA regarding vintage fur items worn in the film from the archive collection of costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini.
To prepare for her role, Jolie spent seven months training to sing opera. The scenes set during Callas’ heyday, an estimated 90 to 95% of Callas’ original recordings were used, with Jolie lip-synching along to these arias. However, Jolie’s singing comes to the fore during the film’s final act.
Callas, who put as much passion into her life as into her art, died in her Paris flat in 1977 , aged just 53. The “divine Callas” was the international symbol of prima donnas, as much for her incomparable voice as for her tantrums and her long love affair with the Greek ship owner Aristotle Onassis.
Maria, the third and final film in Larraín’s trilogy of 20th century “iconic women”, will be relased in UK cinemas on 10 January 2025.
