Trailer for Leonard Bernstein Biopic "Maestro" Debuts Online

The film, which stars Bradley Cooper as Bernstein, will arrive on Netflix on December 20, 2023

Netflix has recently released a full trailer for Bradley Cooper's upcoming biopic of the conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, which is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival in the first week of September.

As well as directing the film, Cooper stars in the title role. He is joined by the British actor Carey Mulligan — who plays Bernstein's wife, Felicia Montealegre. Rather than encapsulating Bernstein's life and career, Cooper has chosen to focus specifically on his marriage.

All three of the couple's children — Jamie, Nina, and Alexander Bernstein — have worked closely alongside Cooper to ensure the film is as accurate, sensitive, and detailed as possible.

"We’re very touched actually, that it’s not a biopic, strictly speaking, it doesn’t tell the story of Leonard Bernstein from birth to death," said Jamie Bernstein. "It’s not that kind of a film at all."

"It’s a portrait of our parents' marriage so it’s about something very specific and very personal for us," she added. "We’re really struck by the fact that this was the aspect of the story that Bradley decided to focus on and we’re very excited about [Carey Mulligan], who is going to play our mother."

Often considered to be one of the foremost conductors of his era, Leonard Bernstein was the first American conductor to lead a major symphony orchestra. He had a close association with the New York Philharmonic, where he was Music Director between 1958 and 1969.

Bernstein was particularly renowned for his outreach. He hosted the New York Philharmonic's famous Young People's Concerts, which were recorded and televised, and made a number of other television programs that brought classical music to a wider audience.

You can view the trailer for Maestro below. The film will begin screening in select cinemas in November and will arrive on Netflix on December 20.