Anne Hathaway's portrayal of a pop star in the upcoming A24 thriller Mother Mary drew significant inspiration from Taylor Swift's iconic performances, according to director David Lowery. In a recent interview with Empire, Lowery detailed how Swift's artistry shaped the film's concert sequences and the character's essence.
"Her 'Reputation' concert film is one of the best concert films ever," Lowery stated. "It's truly phenomenal. And for our concert sequences we looked at that repeatedly. You would not believe the amount of time we were talking about Taylor."
The film, set for release on April 24 in the UK, features Hathaway as Mary, a singer entangled in a psychosexual affair with a fashion designer played by Michaela Coel. Lowery explained that Swift's 2018 tour documentary served as a practical blueprint for the movie's production team, who analyzed it shot-by-shot to estimate visual effects costs for their own stadium scenes on a limited budget.
Beyond technical guidance, Swift's persona influenced Hathaway's character development. Lowery noted, "I definitely brought a lot of Taylor Swift to the table in terms of who Mother Mary was. I would often be like, 'Imagine Taylor Swift in 10 or 15 years – that's sort of who this character could be.'"
Hathaway also performs original songs in the film, including 'Burial,' a track penned by Charli XCX, with additional music contributions from Jack Antonoff. The director's revelations highlight a creative fusion of Swift's concert spectacle and narrative depth, positioning Mother Mary as a thriller with a musical heartbeat.