First Peek of Angelina Jolie as Opera Diva Maria Callas Released

What becomes a legend most? In the case of opera diva Maria Callas it is to have Angelina Jolie play her in an upcoming film biopic directed by Pablo Larraín.

Larrain has previously directed biopics of two of the 20th centuries most iconic figures: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in "Jackie" (with Natalie Portman) and Princess Diana in "Spencer" (with Kristen Stewart). His latest looks at the life of the Greek/American soprano whom some think as the greatest soprano of the 20th century.

"Based on true accounts, the film will tell the tumultuous, beautiful and tragic story of the life of the world's greatest opera singers, relived and re-imagined during her final days in 1970s Paris," reports the Hollywood Reporter. "With the independent production having signed to a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement, the shoot is now set to start, and will take place over eight weeks in Paris, Greece, Budapest and Milan."

The film's cast includes Pierfrancesco Favino ("Adagio," "The Hummingbird"), Alba Rohrwacher ("La Chimera," "Hungry Heart"s), Haluk Bilginer ("Winter Sleep"), Kodi Smit-McPhee ("The Power of the Dog,"" Elvis") and Valeria Golino ("Portrait of a Lady on Fire," "Caos Calmo").

Larrain turned again to his "Spencer" scribe Steven Knight for the script. ""I am incredibly excited to start production on 'Maria,' which I hope will bring Maria Callas's remarkable life and work to audiences all around the world, thanks to the magnificent script by Steven Knight, the work of the entire cast and crew, and especially, Angelina's brilliant work and extraordinary preparation," said Larrain, who recently premiered his dark comedy-horror 'El Conde' in Venice.

"According to the producers, Jolie's costumes in the film are based on original garments worn by Callas," adds the Hollywood Reporter. "The production has consulted with animal rights groups including PETA regarding the use of vintage fur items worn in the film from costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini's archive collection. A conscious decision was made not to use or source any new fur."

Callas was born in New York City in 1923. She began singing at her mother's insistence at the age of 5. At the age of 14, her mother moved Maria and her sister to Greece, where she began her professional musical studies. Her career began during the Second World War in Greece, where she was hailed for her dramatic singing style. After the war she returned to New York City, where she auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera, but had her first major success in Italy and married wealthy industrialist Giovanni Battista Meneghini. Callas became an international star in 1949 by singing Wagner and Bellini in Venice, showing unusual breadth in styles.

Her career had major ups and downs, as did her personal life. Her Met debut took place in 1956, but two years later she feuded with the company's director Rudolf Bing. She returned to the house in 1965, but her major performances were in European and South American opera houses. And while her voice was criticized for thick, dry sound, her distinct style, range and acting abilities made her the leading opera diva of her time.

Callas was famously engaged in a rivalry with Jacqueline Kennedy in the 1960s when the former first lady married her lover, Greek industrialist Aristotle Onassis, in 1968. She retired and lived largely in seclusion in Paris, where she died of a heart attack at the age of 53 in 1957. Her last singing appearances came with a series of recitals in the early 1970s, but by then her voice had lost its celebrated lustre.