Anthony Hopkins, the famous and beloved British actor, does not seem to have any intention of retiring yet and, at 86 years old, he already has a new film on the horizon that will be released in Netflix and in which he has an important role. The mythical protagonist of The silence of the lambs This way of interpreting is responsible for nothing more and nothing less than king herod in the next biblical film entitled María, a film, directed by DJ Caruso and written by Timothy Michael Hayes, which aims to offer a completely new vision of the story of Jesus' mother.
A new vision of Mary's story
The film addresses a key episode in Christian history that focuses on the most difficult moments for María and her family after the birth of her son Jesus. The Israeli actress Noa Cohen, noted for her work in series such as Bentz e Infinity, plays Maria, while the actor Ido Tako (Sky, Come closer - in English) takes on the role of Joseph, her husband. The story reveals how Mary is repudiated after the miraculous conception of her son, and together they must flee the deadly wrath of King Herod, who, according to the film, sees the child as a threat to his throne. Anthony Hopkins, in his role as Herod, will be in charge of giving life to the dark and ruthless monarch who intends to eliminate any obstacle to his power.
Although it may seem unbelievable at this point, playing this character has meant a new challenge at an interpretive level for Hopkins. The actor confessed in an interview with Deadline What attracts him most about this project is the complexity of the script and the level of detail that has been given to the production, aspects that he considers vital to carry out his work successfully: "I am proud to be part of such a monumental story, where every little detail has been treated with such care," he says.
One of the main focuses of this film will be to show a more human and closer facet of the figure of the Virgin Mary. According to director DJ Caruso, the story seeks to highlight Mary's bravery and courage beyond her sacred image, thus taking her to a much more personal and emotional level: "We want to offer the public a portrait of the true human Mary, who has fears, doubts and apprehensions, but who also shows an enormous inner strength," he said in a recent interview, emphasizing that this production It is not only a religious story.
Filming of María The film has been in development in various locations, most notably Morocco, and the script is by Timothy Michael Hayes, who admits to having done extensive research in preparing it. To accurately address the events and characters that form part of this plot, Hayes says he consulted with key figures from various branches of Christianity and other religions, including theologians.
In addition to Hopkins and Cohen, the cast includes names such as Mila Harris in the role of young Mary, Stephanie Nur like Salome, Ori Pfeffer like Joachim, and Gudmundur Thorvaldsson playing Marcelo.
When it premieres on Netflix
The premiere of María It is planned for the next December 6th 2024 on the platform Netflix, and will undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated film projects for those interested in both historical dramas as in biblical narratives.
Without a doubt, its more human approach to such well-known Christian characters can be a point of attraction for both film buffs and fans of religious stories. And that's not to mention the timing, in the middle of the start of the Christmas season. It couldn't have been planned better.