Rooney Mara reframes religious history in Mary Magdalene trailer

A new trailer for Rooney Mara’s Mary Magdalene biopic has risen.

IFC Films unveiled Wednesday a new preview for the long-gestating historical drama, starring the Oscar-nominated actress as the titular religious figure and Joaquin Phoenix as her companion and confidant, Jesus Christ.

The trailer chronicles Mary’s evolution from repressed woman who escaped an arranged marriage to one of Jesus’ closest followers, ultimately becoming the only woman among his loyal band of disciples. Along the way, she clashes with apostles like Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Judas (Tahar Rahim) while societal tensions brew around them.

“The world will only change as we change,” Mary says in the clip. “It is up to us…. a kingdom can’t be built through conflict. It’s here within us.”

Prior to a pair of exposés in the New York Times and New Yorker detailing allegations of sexual harassment and assault against The Weinstein Company co-founder Harvey Weinstein, Mary Magdalene was originally acquired by the studio in February 2016 and set for an Easter 2018 release. Ahead of filing for bankruptcy, TWC eventually pulled the projectfrom its slate in January 2018 and subsequently sold it to IFC.

Directed by Garth Davis (who previously helmed the six-time Oscar-nominated drama Lion in 2016) and written by Helen Edmundson and Philippa Goslett, Mary Magdalene (which also serves as the last theatrical release to be composed by late musician Jóhann Jóhannsson) enters limited release on April 12. Watch the film’s new trailer above.

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