Few studios command the cultural anticipation that A24 does. With Mother Mary A24, the studio once again positions itself at the center of cinematic conversation. Written and directed by David Lowery, the 110 minute drama arrives in Spring 2026 with an R rating and an ensemble cast that signals both prestige and pop spectacle.
At its core, Mother Mary tells the story of an iconic pop star who must confront the ghosts of her past on the eve of a major comeback performance. The tension builds when Mother Mary, portrayed by Anne Hathaway, reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer Sam Anselm, played by Michaela Coel. The reunion exposes long buried wounds that threaten to derail both career and identity.
Anne Hathaway has consistently navigated between prestige drama and commercial spectacle
A Director Known for Emotional Mythmaking
David Lowery has built a reputation for visually lyrical storytelling, from A Ghost Story to The Green Knight. His work often blends intimacy with mythic scope. That sensibility appears to be central to Mother Mary, which situates pop superstardom within a framework of personal reckoning.
Lowery not only directs but also produces the film alongside Toby Halbrooks, Jeanie Igoe, James M. Johnston, Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo, and Jonathan Saubach. This level of creative continuity suggests a cohesive artistic vision rather than a purely commercial music drama.
Furthermore, the production design by Francesca Di Mottola and costume design by Bina Daigeler indicate that the film will lean heavily into visual storytelling. Given the narrative focus on a pop icon and her former costume designer, wardrobe and aesthetic language will likely function as narrative devices, not just visual embellishments.
A Soundtrack Built for Cultural Impact
If Mother Mary aims to capture the intensity of pop stardom, its music team reinforces that ambition. The film features music by Daniel Hart, a longtime Lowery collaborator. Hart’s previous work has balanced emotional minimalism with sweeping instrumentation, which could lend the film an operatic quality.
Original songs are written and produced by Jack Antonoff and Charli xcx. Antonoff, known for collaborations with Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, has shaped much of contemporary pop’s sonic landscape. Charli xcx brings experimental pop credibility. Additionally, original songs by FKA Twigs deepen the project’s avant garde credentials.
With FKA Twigs also appearing in the cast alongside Hunter Schafer, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Alba Baptista, Isaura Barbé Brown, Atheena Frizzell, and Sian Clifford, Mother Mary positions itself at the intersection of fashion, music, and cinema.
Anne Hathaway’s Reinvention Arc
Anne Hathaway has consistently navigated between prestige drama and commercial spectacle. From her Academy Award winning performance in Les Misérables to blockbuster franchises, she understands the machinery of fame. In Mother Mary, she portrays a pop star facing both public expectation and private fracture.
The casting of Michaela Coel adds emotional gravity. Coel’s work in I May Destroy You demonstrated her ability to dissect trauma, power, and friendship with precision. Their on screen reunion narrative promises emotional volatility rather than superficial rivalry.
Because the film centers on estrangement and reconciliation, Mother Mary may explore themes beyond celebrity spectacle. It appears poised to examine ownership, betrayal, and the commodification of identity within the entertainment industry.
Visual Architecture and Cinematography
The film’s cinematography is handled by Andrew Droz Palermo and Rina Yang. Palermo previously collaborated with Lowery, which suggests continuity in tone and visual language. Yang brings a distinct eye shaped by work across fashion and narrative cinema.
This dual cinematography credit indicates a layered aesthetic approach. Concert spectacle, backstage intimacy, and emotional confrontation will likely receive differentiated visual treatment. That structure aligns with A24’s reputation for artful, director driven projects.
With a runtime of 110 minutes and an R rating, Mother Mary has the space and tonal freedom to explore darker subject matter. The rating signals that this is not a sanitized pop fable but a drama willing to confront uncomfortable truths.
Why Mother Mary Matters
A24 has consistently demonstrated its ability to elevate genre into cultural discourse. By combining a major Hollywood star, a critically revered writer director, and boundary pushing music collaborators, Mother Mary positions itself as more than a comeback narrative.
Instead, the film seems designed to interrogate how icons are constructed and dismantled. As Spring 2026 approaches, anticipation will center not only on Anne Hathaway’s performance but on whether Mother Mary reshapes the cinematic pop biopic into something more intimate and psychologically charged.
For fashion, music, and film audiences alike, Mother Mary stands as one of the most strategically assembled releases of the upcoming year. If A24’s track record holds, this will not simply be a film about a star. It will be a meditation on the cost of becoming one.
