On Friday, it was reported that Jolie, who is 47 years old, would play Maria Callas, a Greek opera soprano who was born in the United States, in Pablo Larran’s next film, titled Maria.
According to a press release, the forthcoming film will be based on actual reports and will recount the “tumultuous, magnificent, and sad narrative of the life of the world’s greatest opera singer, relived and remade during her dying days in 1970s Paris.”
The future film’s script was written by Steven Knight, who also authored Larran’s 2021 film Spencer. In that film, Kristen Stewart played the role of Princess Diana, and the film was directed by Larran.
“I take the responsibility for Maria’s life and legacy very seriously and do my best to honor her. I will do all in my power to rise to the occasion “said Jolie, who is in the process of completing post-production work on her fifth picture as a director, titled Without Blood. “I have had a lifelong admiration for Pablo Larran as a filmmaker. It is a dream come true that we will be given the opportunity to share more of Maria’s story together, and that the screenplay will be written by Steven Knight.”
“Having the possibility to merge my two most profound and personal hobbies, movie and opera, has been a long-awaited dream,” said Larran. “I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a very long time.” “It is a great chance to work on this project with Angelina, who is a very courageous and inquisitive artist. A true gift.”
According to The Guardian, Callas was an American-Greek opera soprano whose vocal range stretched three octaves. She her away in 1977 at the age of 53 from a heart attack when she was in Paris.
Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the film Jackie, which was directed by Larran and released in 2016, earned the actress a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress, while Kristen Stewart’s performance in Spencer earned her a nomination for the same award at this year’s Academy Awards.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Maria Callas had a romantic relationship with Aristotle Onassis, whom Jackie Kennedy married in October 1968, nearly five years after President John F. Kennedy was killed in an assassination attempt. This relationship is one of the most notable connections between Callas’ life and the story of Jackie.
Noomi Rapace, the Swedish actress most known for her role in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, had been considered for the role of an opera singer in a film titled Callas, which was directed by Niki Caro, who also directed Mulan.