25 years after her Oscar win for Girl, Interrupted, Angelina Jolie is poised to enter the race for Best Actress with her latest film, Maria. The film centers around Maria Callas, an American Greek opera singer, and the stage of her life following her highly public career. The film is set to release in theaters on November 27, and it will be available to stream on Netflix two weeks later on December 11. The buzz surrounding Jolie’s performance in Maria has been palpable, with early screenings of the film proving it to be a resounding cinematic success.
Netflix recently released the trailer, showcasing the high drama and emotional beats of the film that look to propel Jolie into contention for the Oscar. Maria received an 8-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, the triumphant impact of Jolie’s raw performance. In a recent interview with People, Jolie lamented the film, discussing the role’s challenging nature, especially the complexity of adding singing into the film.
“I was terribly nervous; I spent almost seven months training. My first time singing, I remember being so nervous. My sons were there and they helped to block the door [so] that nobody else was coming in, and I was shaky.”
Jolie’s role in Maria is a return to form for the established actor following a lengthy hiatus from feature-length films. As an actor, Jolie hasn’t appeared in a major role since the disastrous 2021 Marvel film, Eternals. After everything that went wrong with that film, Jolie looks to reclaim her spot on the A-List with Maria. No stranger to biopics, the award-winning director Pablo Larraín (Spencer, Jackie) directs the upcoming music-based film for Netflix. He previously teamed up with Natalie Portman and Kristen Stewart, so Jolie is the latest in a line of acclaimed actresses to appear in his projects.
The Star-Studded Race For Best Actress
Jolie’s probable pursuit of the Best Actress nomination comes amid a crowded race. The actress is rumored to be in the running alongside several stars from the music industry who are also featured in Oscar-driven vehicles. Those alleged to be in contention for the prestigious Oscar in 2025 include Selena Gomez for Emilia Perez, Ariana Grande for Wicked, and even Lady Gaga for Joker: Folie à Deux. All of these potential inclusions are purely speculative at this time, but these names have been thrust into the conversation consistently. Maria currently holds a 77% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Jolie might as well already have her name etched on an Oscars statue, if fan reactions are any indication of her chances. One excited fan took to X, tweeting, “HOLY SH-T I F—ING CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THIS MOVIE !!! Seriously I know I’m going to be blown away by Angelina Jolie’s performance as Maria. The Oscar is coming for her.” Another fan shared the same level of excitement, writing, “The Maria trailer is so beautiful. I’ve seen enough, give Angelina Jolie the Oscar already.”
Pablo Larraín (Jackie, Spencer) directs this biographical psychological drama film about opera singer Maria Callas, focusing on the final stretch of her life in Paris.
- Release Date
- November 27, 2024
- Runtime
- 123 Minutes