From the director of Spencer and Jackie comes a new biopic, Maria. The film follows opera singer Maria Callas, played by Angelina Jolie, shown off in a first-look image. 

An official description states that the film, directed by Pablo Larrain, will “explore the life of the legendary, iconic, and controversial singer, often described as the original diva.” 

“Based on true accounts, Maria tells the tumultuous, beautiful and tragic story of the life of the world’s greatest opera singer, relived and re-imagined during her final days in 1970s Paris.”

According to Variety reports, the film is also an independent production, with an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA. Shooting will take about eight weeks across Paris, Greece, Milan, and Budapest. 

Steven Knight, who previously worked with Larrain on Spencer, completed the script before the Writers Guild of America strike. 

“I am incredibly excited to start production on Maria, which I hope will bring Maria Callas’ remarkable life and work to audiences all around the world, thanks to the magnificent script by Steven Knight, the work of the entire cast and crew, and especially, Angelina’s brilliant work and extraordinary preparation,” Larrain had said. 

The costumes for Jolie are based on authentic articles that Maria Callas herself wore, with fur items from an archive collection. The film crew consulted with PETA to not use new fur in the project. 

Alongside Angelina Jolie, Maria stars Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, and Haluk Bilginer, among others.