Carey Mulligan has been cast as Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein, wife of the legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, in Bradley Cooper’s upcoming film Maestro.
The film marks Bradley Cooper’s directorial follow-up to his debut A Star Is Born, which received 6 Oscar nominations in 2019. Cooper is also set to produce and star in the film.
Maestro will tell the story of Leonard Bernstein and his relationship with his wife, actress Felicia, in what has been teased as a “complex love story.” Cooper worked with Oscar-winning screenwriter and producer Josh Singer (Spotlight) and the Bernstein family to write the screenplay.
Felicia was born in Costa Rica, moving to New York City at the age of 21 to pursue a career in the performing arts. She performed in a number of television dramas and appeared on Broadway twice. Though they first met at a party in 1946, Leonard and Felicia were engaged twice before marrying in 1951. Their marriage spanned three decades, during which time they had three children: Jamie Bernstein, Alexander Bernstein and Nina Bernstein Simmons.
Both Bradley Cooper and the Bernstein children have shared their reactions to the news, with Jamie Bernstein stating that they are “absolutely thrilled that Carey Mulligan will play our mother in Maestro.” He believes “Carey will surely capture Felicia’s unique combination of wit, warmth, elegant beauty, and depth of emotion.” In a statement, Cooper said: “I was struck by Carey ever since I saw her on stage many years ago and I haven’t missed a performance of her since. I am humbled to be working with such a mammoth talent, as well as such a kind person in Carey.”
Other names currently attached to the production include Martin Scorsese, Todd Phillips and Steven Spielberg. It is likely that Netflix will also give the film a theatrical release as it has done before with The Irishman and other awards season contenders.
Production is expected to begin next spring.
Words by Talya Honebeek
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