Netflix Acquires U.S. Rights to Pablo Larrain’s Biopic ‘Maria’ with Angelina Jolie

Netflix has secured the U.S. distribution rights to “Maria,” a biopic directed by Pablo Larrain that stars Angelina Jolie as the legendary opera singer Maria Callas. This acquisition happens just before the film’s world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.

Larrain, a Chilean-born director, is well-known in the U.S. for his historical biopics like “Jackie” about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and “Spencer” featuring Princess Diana. This is his second collaboration with Netflix, the first being last year’s “El Conde,” which received an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography.

“Maria” is described as a “creative reimagining and a psychological portrait of Maria Callas.” It takes place in the 1970s near the end of Callas’ life, who passed away in 1977 at the age of 54. The film explores her life from the 1920s to the 1970s, focusing on how she devoted herself to her work, ultimately burning out her voice and life in the process. The screenplay is penned by Academy Award nominee Steven Knight, known for “Spencer” and “Peaky Blinders.” Producers include Juan de Rios Larrain, Lorenzo Mieli, and Jonas Dornbach.

Besides Angelina Jolie, the cast of “Maria” features Academy Award nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alba Rohrwacher, Pierfrancesco Favino, and Valeria Golino.

In a statement, Larrain expressed his enthusiasm about partnering with Netflix once again: “I’m excited to partner again with the Netflix team who care so passionately about movies. This film is my most personal work yet. 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.”

Dan Lin, Chairman of Film for Netflix, added, “I’m excited that we are continuing to work with Pablo and his production company Fabula – this is our seventh project with them, most recently with ‘El Conde’ and they are producing the upcoming ‘In Her Place.’ Pablo continues a remarkable streak of exploring iconic women through film, this time with the incredible Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas.”

Following its Venice premiere, “Maria” will be screened at the New York Film Festival, which runs from September 27 to October 14.

Source: Gold Derby