Anne Hathaway & Michaela Coel To Star In New A24 Release Mother Mary
One of our most anticipated films since it was announced is Mother Mary, an intriguingly mysterious new project starring Anne Hathaway and I May Destroy You’s Michaela Coel. It follows a pop star on the verge of a major comeback, when she crosses paths once again with her former designer, whom she has not seen in many years after a bitter end to their collaboration. Arriving in cinemas next month, here’s everything you need to know:
What is Mother Mary about?
The film introduces us to the fictional pop superstar Mother Mary, played by Hathaway, who is an iconic and much-loved singer. During her fame and career, the performer has carefully constructed a public persona in the eyes of her legions of fans- but it threatens to unravel at a critical moment. Having announced a huge comeback and with anticipation high, she reconnects on the eve of her first performance with Sam Anselm (Coel), her estranged best friend and the fashion designer who once helped create her iconic image and the “diva persona” she makes a central part of it.
Their reunion brings back a complex past and set of emotions between the two women, with Mary in need of a new dress for the comeback tour that she knows only Sam can create and get right. Much of the plot is being kept mysteriously under wraps by A24, but Mary and Sam’s up-and-down relationship leads them to embark on what is described as a “psychosexual affair.” The “epic pop melodrama” follows Mary in a more vulnerable state after an emotional crisis draws her closer to her former designer. The film is directed by David Lowery, who also helmed The Green Knight starring Dev Patel and A Ghost Story.
The cast
Alongside the two leads, the film features a strong supporting cast including Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), Sian Clifford (Fleabag) and musician FKA Twigs (The Crow). In addition to the stellar cast, audiences can also expect a Charli XCX-fuelled soundtrack, with the singer’s name being attached to multiple songs for the film off the back of her recent Wuthering Heights success. Mother Mary is set to arrive in cinemas on 24th April 2026, and you can watch the trailer below.
Watch the trailer
The tantalising first trailer for the project was released back in December, and offers a glimpse of Hathaway as a larger-than-life pop icon, teasing the tense dynamic between her and Coel’s character. “I haven’t seen her in over ten years… but I could tell she was coming from a thousand miles away…” Sam is heard narrating. There’s clearly a trepidation from Mary and a fear that her request for a dress may end in sabotage, but she puts her trust in Sam anyway, sardonic as she may seem. It’s safe to say things might get pretty weird.
