Hollywood icon Angelina Jolie has broken her creative silence after a long pause, stepping back into the screen in Pablo Larraín’s upcoming biopic about the legendary Greek opera star Maria Callas. The project, currently titled Maria, is set to be directed by Larraín with production details gradually coming into focus, and it has been reported by Deadline.
The film is being developed under the working title Maria and is being written by Steven Knight. Joining Jolie in the cast are Valeria Golino, known for Frida, Kodi Smit-McPhee, famous for Elvis, Alba Rohrwacher of Hungry Hearts, Haluk Bilginer from Hibernation, and Pierfrancesco Favino, noted for The Best of Years. This ensemble promises a cinematic portrayal of Callas through a modern lens while honoring the singer’s enduring influence on opera and popular culture.
Pablo Larraín has already released the first two stills of Jolie as Maria Callas, hinting at a visually ambitious approach to the life of the irrefutably dramatic diva. The narrative is grounded in true events and aims to chart the tumultuous, radiant, and ultimately tragic arc of the world’s most celebrated opera vocalist. The story is imagined through the lens of Callas’s later years in Paris during the 1970s, retracing memories, conflicts, and creative intensity that defined her public persona. Filming is planned to span eight weeks across iconic European sites, including Paris, Greece, Budapest, and Milan, offering a tapestry of locations that mirror Callas’s multifaceted career and personal chapters.
In a notable attention to authenticity, Jolie’s costumes for Maria draw inspiration from Callas’s actual wardrobe. The design team consulted animal rights organizations, including PETA, to assess the use of vintage furs from the archival collection of costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini. The decision was made to avoid purchasing new fur, aligning production choices with contemporary ethical considerations while preserving the character’s stylistic essence.
Recent public appearances by Jolie have also reflected a refreshed, new image that aligns with the transformative nature of the film project, signaling a poised return to a role that resonates with audiences around the world.