Just announced at the Cannes Film Festival, Noomi Rapace is currently training her vocal cords in preparation for a starring role as Maria Callas. The biopic, titled simply Callas, has Niki Caro (Whale Rider, North Country) attached to direct.
Callas was one of the most iconic and influential female opera singers of the last century, described by Leonard Bernstein as "the Bible of opera". But her talent as a singer was often overshadowed by a dramatic personal life, and the film centres on her passionate relationship with the fantasically wealthy Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.
“This movie", says producer Guido De Angelis, "is about an extraordinary woman whose deepest desire is to lead an ordinary life with the man of her choice. Callas was la Divina, a goddess, who just wanted to be a normal woman; she found out she couldn't. It sounds like an ancient myth. Niki Caro immediately identified and superbly built into the script this epic, deeply emotional and dramatic quality of the story. And we are absolutely thrilled that Noomi has come aboard, as she is dream casting for Callas. We are convinced she will be able to embody the indomitable spirit of such an important international icon.”
Content Media are handling world sales. "We fell in love with Callas instantly," says Content's president Jamie Carmichael. "It’s such an emotional and powerful story of one of the world’s great romances, and we’re certain that audiences around the world will be charmed and entranced by the passion, beauty and operatic splendor of this epic tale.”