First Look: Angelina Jolie Begins Filming as Maria Callas in a New Biopic Directed by Pablo Larraín

Angelina Jolie‘s first look in Pablo Larraín‘s new biopic about Maria Callas, titled “Maria,” is out. Production has started in Budapest. The film will tell the tumultuous, beautiful, and tragic story of one of the world’s greatest opera singers, Maria Callas. See the images below.

“Maria,” is an independent production with an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA. It will be filmed over eight weeks in Paris, Greece, Budapest, and Milan. The script, written by Steven Knight, who collaborated with Larraín on “Spencer,” was completed before the Writers Guild strike. The cast includes Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Valeria Golino, alongside Jolie.

In an interview with Variety in June 2023, Larraín said, “I’m extremely happy to have a chance to conclude this process of depicting women who changed the fate of the 20th century, culturally speaking”, Larraín added, “But admiration is not enough to make a movie. And obviously, getting to the process, as I have done before with both Natalie Portman and Kristen Stewart, of listening to them and following them. I don’t have the skill to comprehend the character until a great actress—in this case, Angelina—comes up with their take. To do this with Angelina, a supremely brave and curious artist, is a fascinating opportunity. A true gift.”

The film is a collaboration between Apartment Pictures, German Komplizen Films, and the US-based Fremantle Media Company. It’s a joint effort by directors Pablo Larrain and Juan de Dios Larrain. Before heading to Budapest, Larraín will also support his latest film, “El Conde,” at the Venice Film Festival. Meanwhile, Jolie is finishing postproduction on her film “Without Blood.”