Netflix Leonard Bernstein Biopic ‘Maestro’: Filming Starts, What We Know

Netflix will be releasing an Original biopic-drama Maestro, based on the career of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein. Popular actor Bradley Cooper will be starring, directing and writing the screenplay, along with Spotlight producer Josh Singer. Read on to find out what we know so far about this exciting upcoming biopic.

About the Netflix Original biopic Maestro

Filming on the new Leonard Bernstein biopic was originally set to start in April 2021. However, due to a delay, principal photography has now begun in October. It is currently unknown what caused the delay, but we can only theorize it could be due to the pandemic.

Besides Bradley Cooper in the Maestro director’s chair, legendary directors Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese are acting as producers. These greats will be working alongside Joker director, Todd Phillips. Others attached to the biopic include Fred Berner (Pollock), Kristie Macosko Krieger (Bridge of Spies), Amy Durning (Magic City) and Emma Tillinger Koskoff (Joker).

What is the plot of the biopic?

The Netflix Original biopic Maestro follows the 30-year career of West Side Story and On the Waterfront conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein. The movie will also feature his marriage to Chilean-born actress Felicia Montealegre.

According to the official synopsis, the biopic covers the complex love of Leonard and Felicia. It features their lives from the time they met in 1946 at a party and continues through two engagements, a 25-year marriage, and three children.

Cast of the Netflix Original biopic Maestro

Besides directing, Bradley Cooper (Guardians of the Galaxy) is taking on the lead role of Leonard Bernstein. This will be the second feature film Cooper has directed and his first since A Star is Born. In fact, Maestro will be Cooper’s first Netflix Original as both an actor and director.

Carey Mulligan will star as Bernstein’s Chilean-born wife. This will be Mulligan’s second Netflix Original, who has also starred in the critically acclaimed film Mudbound. She is also known for her role as Kathy in Never Let Me Go and Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby.

Actor Jeremy Strong will play the role of the famed American art critic, author, and composer, John Jonas Gruen. The author’s work includes the famous book The Private World of Leonard Bernstein. Gruen recently starred as Jerry Rubin in the Netflix Original historical drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 and had a lead role as Kendall Roy in the HBO drama series Succession.

So far, no other cast has been mentioned for the Netflix Original biopic.

What is the latest status of the biopic?

As mentioned above, filming was initially scheduled to start in April 2021 but was delayed. Meanwhile, the official IMDb pro page for Maestro changed from pre-production to filming as of October 12, 2021.

As for filming locations, the only known location so far is Los Angeles. California. Meanwhile, there are a number of companies credited with being involved in Maestro. These include Joint Effort, Sikelia Productions, Fred Berner Films, and Amblin Entertainment.

As for the release date on the streaming channel, this is currently unknown. According to What’s on Netflix, we are only likely to see the premiere of Maestro on Netflix at some time in late 2022.