What do you do for a follow-up if you’re filmmaker Pablo Larran, who has done two non-traditional biopics of iconic women – in his case, Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana? Angelina Jolie agrees to play opera singer Maria Callas in your upcoming film.
According to the film’s synopsis, Maria “tells the turbulent, beautiful, and sad story of the world’s greatest opera singer, relived and re-imagined during her dying days in 1970s Paris,” with Larran reuniting with Spencer (the Diana film) writer Steven Knight.
So it seems like it will be similar in style and tone to the other two films.
Callas was one of the most famous opera singers of the twentieth century. She was born in Manhattan and began her opera training in Greece when she was 13 years old, subsequently moving to Italy for her career.
She fought with near-sightedness that almost blinded her and several controversies in her personal and professional life over the years. She had a tumultuous relationship with Italian opera soprano Renata Tebaldi, as well as an affair with Aristotle Onassis (who subsequently married Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (yep, the subject of Larrain’s Jackie).
“Having the opportunity to merge my two most profound and personal hobbies, movies and opera,” Larran adds, “has been a long-awaited dream.” “It’s a great opportunity to work with Angelina, a very courageous and inquisitive artist.” A genuine gift.”
“I take my duty for Maria’s life and legacy extremely seriously. I shall do everything in my power to face the task. Pablo Larran is a filmmaker I’ve always liked. It’s a dream come true to be able to convey more of Maria’s tale alongside him, and with a script written by Steven Knight “says Angelina Jolie
