Three years after starring as Thena in the film that Marvel doesn't like to talk about (Image: Disclosure)Eternals), Angelina Jolie returns to the big screen as the protagonist of Mariawhich is the last chapter of a trilogy that began in 2016. The biographical psychological drama, directed by Pablo LarraÃn and written by Steven Knight, follows the last years of the life of famous opera singer Maria Callas (played by Jolie). Maria is set in 1970s Paris, where Callas lived out of the public eye until his death in 1977.
MariaJolie's reviews were largely positive, with many critics praising Jolie's performance as the renowned opera singer. However, some may be surprised to learn that the 2024 Netflix film is not the first of its kind. In reality, Maria is the conclusion of an eight-year trilogy, with the first two installments also focusing on influential women of the 20th century, whose names many will recognize.
Maria concludes trilogy of films by Pablo LarraÃn about influential women of the 20th century
LarraÃn's trilogy also includes Jackie and Spencer
Pablo LarraÃn began his trilogy of biopics about influential women who lived in the 1900s with Jackie in 2016. Spencer followed in 2021, and Maria ends the series in 2024. As mentioned above, Maria revolves around Angelina Jolie's Maria Callas. As for the other two films, Jackie focuses on former First Lady of the United States Jackie Kennedy (played by Natalie Portman), and Spencer tells the story of Princess Diana (played by Kristen Stewart) Christmas 1991, when she considers leaving Prince Charles. Princess Diana was born Diana Frances Spencer, hence LarraÃn getting the film's title.
At the time of this writing, nominations for the 97th Academy Awards have not yet been announced, but Jolie is already a frontrunner in the Best Actress category for Maria.
So while the three films don't exactly connect story-wise, they are part of a trilogy. People don't need to see one film to see another. However, they are all linked because LarraÃn directed them, and they center around three of the most influential women of the 20th century. LarraÃn's work will end with Maria in 2024, however.
Maria Could Finally Fulfill a Disappointing Oscar Sequel to Pablo Larrain's Film Trilogy
Angelina Jolie could win an Oscar for Maria
Although LarraÃn's influential trilogy of 20th-century chick flicks received critical and public acclaim, the first two films failed to win Oscars. Both Portman and Stewart received Oscar nominations for Best Actress, but lost to Emma Stone (for La La Terra) and Jessica Chastain (by The Eyes of Tammy Faye). The good news is that Jolie can break this trend. At the time of this writing, nominations for the 97th Academy Awards have not yet been announced, but Jolie is already a pioneer for Best Actress for Maria (put Variety).
Source: Variety