Maria: Everything To Know About the New Netflix Film

Angelina Jolie is set to captivate audiences once again with her portrayal of the legendary opera singer Maria Callas. Get ready as we dive into everything there is to know about the new biopic with all the Oscar-buzz, Maria!

The Plot

Maria delves into the tumultuous life of iconic opera singer Maria Callas. Directed by Pablo Larraín, the film offers an exploration of Maria Callas’s later years, after she withdrew herself from public life after her final performance. Set in her Parisian apartment she rarely left, the film follows Maria Callas as she navigates a complex web of memories, regrets, and unfulfilled dreams in an interview with Mandrax, an unpleasant reporter. Maria Callas’s struggles with substance abuse and the pressures of fame will be explored along with her incredible career in what is sure to be an incredibly moving biopic. 

The Cast and Crew

The cast of Maria boasts a talented ensemble of actors with impressive resumes. Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie stars as the film’s iconic lead, Maria Callas. Joining Angelina Jolie is Pierfrancesco Favino, playing Maria Callas’s protective butler Ferruccio. You may recognize Pierfrancesco Favino from his work in Angels & Demons and World War Z.  Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, will play Bruna Lupoli, the dutiful secretary to Maria Callas. Kodi Smit-McPhee, who received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Power of the Dog, rounds out the cast as Mandrax, a journalist interviewing Maria Callas.

Maria is directed by the critically-acclaimed Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín. Maria will serve as the third and final film in Pablo Larraín’s trilogy of films about powerful 20th century women. Jackie with Natalie Portman and Spencer with Kristen Stewart were the first two installments in the trilogy and fans are excited to see how Pablo Larraín will approach telling Maria Callas’s life story. 

The Fans

Fans are raving about the look of Maria just from the trailers, and can’t wait to see the whole film. Pablo Larraín is known for creating visually stunning films and sets, so fans are excited to see how he will capture the grandeur of the opera!

Fans of Angelina Jolie are also excited to see her in such an iconic role! After critics reviews, there is a lot of Oscar-buzz surrounding Angelina Jolie this year! Angelina Jolie received the Oscar in 2000 for Best Supporting Actress in Girl, Interrupted, so fans of hers are hoping she can land a Best Actress nomination and win this year!

The Critics

At the time of writing this article, Maria boasts an impressive 70% on the Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes! After Maria’s premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2024, critics have been raving about the moving biopic. Under the Radar’s Kaveh Jalinous praised Maria as “a striking, narratively interesting, and deeply affecting biopic about one of opera’s most talented, unforgettable, and complex figures.” With such positive early reviews, make sure you mark your calendars for Maria’s release! 

The Release Date

Get ready to be captivated by the stunning drama in Maria! Maria will hit theaters on November 27, 2024. If you can’t catch it on the big screen, don’t fret! Maria will also be available to stream on Netflix starting December 11, 2024.