Fellowes to bring Callas and Onassis to big screen
Story by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ACCORDING to reports in the media, Julian Fellowes, the acclaimed writer, actor and film director, is writing the screenplay for Greek Fire, a film about the relationship between Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis and opera singer Maria Callas.
The on/off affair ended when Onassis married Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of assassinated American President John F Kennedy. As Fellowes explains: “These three iconic planets were hurtling towards each other for a massive collision; talk about a big bang.
“He was the richest man in the world and she was the greatest opera star but they couldn’t make each other happy. Having come from nothing, Onassis was always thinking of the next big thing. The most difficult point for all driven people is to know how to relax and enjoy what they have; a lesson for us all.”
The 35-year-old American actress, Eva Mendes, is the first choice to play Callas. Her previous films include The Spirit, The Women, Cleaner, Ghost Rider and Hitch.
Fellowes writing credits include Little Lord Fauntleroy (winner of an International EMMY in 1995) and the BAFTA nominated The Prince and the Pauper (TV); the Oscar winning Gosford Park and The Young Victoria (film); the book of the stage musical Mary Poppins; and two novels: Snobs and Past Imperfect.
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