Movies - Mother Mary : A24’s 2026 Epic Melodrama Sets the Stage for an Unforgettable Artistic Collision

By Mulder, 02 december 2025

The long-awaited epic melodrama Mother Mary has been quietly building momentum ever since its announcement back in March 2023, and as we finally approach its April 2026 release, it’s becoming clear that this film is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious and emotionally charged projects ever undertaken by David Lowery. Known for his lyrical filmmaking and his ability to blend mythic scale with human intimacy, David Lowery not only writes and directs this tale but also produces it alongside Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston, Jeanie Igoe, Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo, and Jonathan Saubach, reinforcing how deeply personal and meticulously crafted this project aims to be. What began as a simple announcement two years ago has evolved into a sprawling creative undertaking, filmed across Germany beginning in May 2023, continuing even through the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike thanks to a special waiver, and finally wrapping on July 20, 2024—as confirmed directly by Anne Hathaway, whose excitement during that announcement hinted at the emotional weight and artistic boldness of the film. The production’s journey is almost cinematic in itself: long shoots, international locations, and a cast of performers known for pushing boundaries all converge into what promises to be a haunting, intoxicating exploration of desire, art, and identity.

At the center of Mother Mary is a psychosexual relationship woven between a world-famous pop singer and a visionary fashion designer—roles embodied by Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel, two performers who thrive on challenging material and emotional complexity. Their characters collide when Mary’s need for a new tour wardrobe forces her to reunite with Sam, reigniting a turbulent bond that blurs inspiration, obsession, and vulnerability. The dynamic between these two artists has already become the subject of fascination online, especially as behind-the-scenes anecdotes from early test screenings and crew interviews describe scenes balancing grand, operatic emotions with piercingly intimate moments—exactly the tonal territory that David Lowery excels in. The film expands its emotional palette even further thanks to a powerhouse supporting cast including Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Isaura Barbé-Brown, Alba Baptista, Sian Clifford, and the ever-magnetic FKA Twigs, whose casting was revealed in March 2024. Industry insiders have whispered that FKA Twigs brings an intensity and physicality to her role that mirrors her own aesthetic as a performer, hinting at a standout presence in a film already filled with bold artistic personalities.

Music, unsurprisingly for a film about a global pop icon,sits at the heart of Mother Mary, and the creative team assembled here reads like a dream collaboration for fans of boundary-pushing soundscapes. The score is composed by frequent Lowery collaborator Daniel Hart, whose work on projects like The Green Knight and A Ghost Story has already proven his ability to craft atmospheric, emotionally enveloping compositions. But Mother Mary goes even further by enlisting original songs from Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX, two artists who dominate contemporary pop in utterly different but equally influential ways. Their involvement suggests a sonic identity that oscillates between mainstream shine and experimental edge—precisely the kind of tension that mirrors Mary’s psychological unraveling. Stories from the set describe late-night recording sessions, spontaneous rewrites, and an almost electrifying synergy between the actors and musicians, as though the film’s emotional stakes directly informed the music being created in real time. Add to this the combined cinematographic talents of Andrew Droz Palermo and Rina Yang, and the project starts to resemble a visual-musical tapestry rather than a conventional melodrama.

One of the most striking elements surrounding Mother Mary is how strongly the film community has embraced its boldness before a single theatrical frame has been released. Filmed primarily in Germany through Homebird Productions, augenschein Filmproduktion, Topic Studios and IPR.VC, the production drew curiosity from the international press not only because of its striking cast but also because of the massive tonal swing David Lowery seems to be taking. Interviews with crew members have described the film as operatic, sensual, devastating, and strangely uplifting all at once a swirl of emotions that recalls classic Hollywood melodrama while pushing far into contemporary territory. Even the continuation of production during the SAG-AFTRA strike thanks to a granted waiver became part of the film’s mythology, a testament to how deeply determined the creative team was to preserve its momentum and emotional continuity. And when Anne Hathaway announced in July 2024 that the film had wrapped, she did so with a sense of relief and pride that fans immediately picked up on, sparking speculation that this might be one of her most daring performances to date.

With A24 setting the U.S. release for April 2026, anticipation is already climbing steadily. Early images and teasers released online particularly those featured on the official film page and in the atmospheric first trailer have ignited conversations about the film’s aesthetic: moody lighting, opulent fashion design, emotional intensity spilling through body language and color palettes. Fans have begun dissecting every frame, pointing out symbolic details, referencing previous Lowery motifs, or speculating about the visual contrast between Mary’s glittering pop world and Sam’s fiercely guarded creative sanctuary. The fact that Mother Mary is being marketed not just as a melodrama but as an epic suggests that the film may span emotional and artistic landscapes far larger than initially expected, perhaps even challenging or redefining the genre for a modern audience that craves psychological complexity.

As we count down to its arrival, Mother Mary increasingly feels like one of those rare cinematic events where all the creative planets align visionary direction, fearless performances, daring music, and a production history filled with passion and persistence. Whether audiences come for the psychosexual tension between Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel, for the groundbreaking music from Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX, or simply for the promise of another deeply immersive film from David Lowery, this project is shaping up to be a defining release of 2026. If the early buzz and behind-the-scenes energy are any indication, Mother Mary will not merely depict the relationship between a musician and a fashion designer it will dissect the volatile alchemy of art itself.

Synopsis : 
The relationship between a musician and a fashion designer.

Mother Mary
Written and directed by David Lowery
Produced by David Lowery, Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston, Jeanie Igoe, Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo, Jonathan Saubach
Starring  Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay,, Isaura Barbé-Brown, Alba Baptista, Sian Clifford, FKA Twigs
Cinematography : Andrew Droz Palermo, Rina Yang
Music by Daniel Hart
Production companies : Homebird Productions, augenschein Filmproduktionk, Topic Studios, IPR.VC
Distributed by A24 (United States)
Release date : April 2026