Pablo Larraín‘s biopic “Maria,” starring Angelina Jolie as the legendary opera singer Maria Callas, is set to take the fall awards season by storm.
Netflix is set to release the film in U.S. theaters on November 27 before it debuts on the streaming platform on December 11.
Additionally, the giant streamer has shared a new image from the film featuring Jolie as the influential musician.
“Maria” received its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 29.
It received an eight-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, held at the Sala Grande Theatre. Moved by the reception, Jolie was seen wiping away tears.
Netflix secured the film soon after winning a bidding war with at least one major distributor in the lead-up to the festival.
“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.
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 pic 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 the biopic 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.”
“Maria” is scripted by Oscar nominee and “Peaky Blinders” scribe Steven Knight, who previously penned Larraín’s film “Spencer.” Edward Lachman (“El Conde,” “Carol”) serves as cinematographer.
It 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 movie with Larraín directing following “El Conde” (2023), which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography.
It marks the seventh production partnership between Fabula and Netflix, including Maite Alberdi’s upcoming film “In Her Place.”
“Maria” will screen at the New York Film Festival on September 29 and the AFI Film Festival on October 26.
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