Angelina Jolie To Play Opera Singer Maria Callas In Pablo Larraín's Next

Angelina Jolie is all set to play opera singer Maria Callas in a new drama from filmmaker Pablo Larraín. The Oscar-nominated director will helm the biopic titled 'Maria.'

The film “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 its logline. Steven Knight, whose writing cerdits include Spencer, Peaky Blinders, Eastern Promises wrote the script.

Angelina Jolie To Play Maria Callas

Callas was an American-born Greek soprano singer and one of the most famous opera singers of the 20th century. She was born in Manhattan and received her opera training in Greece when she was 13 and later moved to Italy for her career. Throughout the years, she dealt with near-sightedness that left her nearly blind and multiple scandals in her personal and professional life. She died of a heart attack at the age of 53.

On taking over the biopic role, Jolie told in a statement, "I take very seriously the responsibility to Maria’s life and legacy. I will give all I can to meet the challenge. Pablo Larraín is a director I have long admired. To be allowed the chance to tell more of Maria’s story with him, and with a script by Steven Knight, is a dream.”

Larraín’s previous two biopics, last year’s Spencer starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana and 2016’s Jackie with Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, garnered the best actress nominations for its two leading ladies.

“Having the chance to combine my two most deep and personal passions, cinema and opera, has been a long-awaited dream. To do this with Angelina, a supremely brave and curious artist, is a fascinating opportunity. A true gift," Larraín added in a statement.

Meanwhile, Jolie was last seen in Marvel’s Eternals and Taylor Sheridan thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead. Her next film as director is the drama Without Blood starring Salma Hayek.

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