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Anne Hathaway Leads Lowery’s Mary Film, Soundtrack Features Charli XCX

4/25/2026

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Summary

Anne Hathaway Stars Film

Anne Hathaway (actress) starred as Mother Mary in Lowery's film, which opened in London on April 23, 2026 and later in the United States.
Hathaway trained eight hours for months and spent a year shaping the voice for seven soundtrack songs.
Lowery said the two-hander examines creative tension between the leads rather than serving as a biography.
Charli XCX, Jack Antonoff and FKA Twigs wrote songs for the film after receiving only the script.

Summary

Lowery Splits Audiences

Director David Lowery says he lives as two creators—a Disney-style filmmaker and the confrontational auteur of “Mother Mary.”
He designed “Mother Mary” to split audiences, whereas his Disney film “Pete’s Dragon” was meant to be comforting and unifying.
Lowery notes his short Disney work “An Almost Christmas Story” is the most widely viewed piece he has produced.

History

Historical Context

In August 1988, Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ” opened in 123 U.S. theaters, earning $33.8 million worldwide despite bans in several countries and vocal opposition from figures such as Mother Angelica. The backlash showed that provocative religious portrayals can spark protests while still driving box-office returns. Studios now cite that precedent when marketing polarizing biopics like David Lowery’s “Mother Mary.”

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Anne Hathaway Stars Film

Anne Hathaway (actress) starred as Mother Mary in Lowery's film, which opened in London on April 23, 2026 and later in the United States.
Hathaway trained eight hours for months and spent a year shaping the voice for seven soundtrack songs.
Lowery said the two-hander examines creative tension between the leads rather than serving as a biography.
Charli XCX, Jack Antonoff and FKA Twigs wrote songs for the film after receiving only the script.

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