David Lowery's Mother Mary trailer reimagines Anne Hathaway in a new avatar

The first look at David Lowery's Mother Mary, the upcoming feature directed by Lowery, has been released, providing an initial preview ahead of the movie's April 2026 theatrical debut. The project features Anne Hathaway in the lead role, with Michaela Coel co-starring. The ensemble cast includes Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Isaura Barbé-Brown, Alba Baptista, Sian Clifford, and FKA Twigs.

Anne Hathaway appears in a reimagined on-screen persona as Mother Mary, as shown in the newly released first look. Portraying a globally recognized pop star preparing for a major comeback, Hathaway steps into a role that emphasizes artistic reinvention and emotional complexity.

According to the film’s official synopsis, the story follows globally recognized pop star Mother Mary (Hathaway) as she reconnects with her former best friend and ex-costume designer Sam Anselm (Coel) shortly before a major comeback performance. Their meeting brings unresolved personal and professional issues to the surface, forming the central conflict of the narrative.

The newly released trailer presents brief interactions between the lead characters, along with short performance clips and scenes depicting preparation for the comeback event. The footage shows Hathaway’s character navigating the pressures associated with her public profile while addressing past tensions with Sam. The trailer focuses primarily on the interpersonal story and does not reveal extensive plot information.

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Mother Mary: Production background and creative direction

Hathaway discussed her approach to Mother Mary in a July 2025 interview with Vogue, describing it as one that required a complete reset of her artistic process. She said:

“What struck me right away, reading the script, is that you can’t ‘perform’ Mother Mary. If I got the part, I would have to become material David could craft with. … I had to submit to being a beginner.. ''

She also added:

''The humility of that — showing up every day knowing you’re going to suck. And it has to be okay. You’re not ‘bad.’ You’re just a beginner. Getting to that mindset — I had to shed some things that were hard to shed. It was welcome. But it was hard, the way transformational experiences can be hard.”

Coel also commented on Hathaway’s preparation and level of commitment during production:

“It’s very brave work that she’s done. The physicality she had to learn in preparation for this job — and it’s not just us in [that scene], it’s the crew, it’s the producers, and so of course this day was terrifying, a little monster on her shoulder, but no one realized until after the first take. And then to keep doing it — take after take. That requires a lot of strength. Gallons and tons.”

Mother Mary was filmed in Germany. The production was led by David Lowery, Toby Halbrooks, and James M. Johnston, with Jeanie Igoe of Homebird Productions also producing. Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo, and Jonathan Saubach from the Cologne-based Augenschein Filmproduktion served as additional producers.

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Mother Mary: Cast overview and related projects

A still from the movie (Image via YouTube/ A24)

Anne Hathaway leads the cast as Mother Mary. Her role in Mother Mary adds to her slate of forthcoming film appearances scheduled through 2025 and 2026. Michaela Coel appears as Sam Anselm, whose return into Mary’s life sets the narrative in motion.

Additional cast members include Hunter Schafer, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Alba Baptista, and others, though detailed information about their specific roles has not been disclosed. FKA Twigs appears both in the cast and as one of the contributors to the film’s original music.

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The trailer for Mother Mary is now available, offering the first official preview of the film ahead of its 2026 release.

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