American actor to portray operatic legend in film of Terrence McNally’s Master Class.

It has been revealed that Meryl Streep is set to play operatic legend Maria Callas in a film version of Terrence McNally’s Broadway play Master Class. The 64-year-old actress is due to start filming for the HBO production in January 2015 with a release date planned for later in the year. Mike Nichols will direct.

The play is based around the famous master classes that Callas gave at the Juilliard School in 1971, six years before her premature death. Through the medium of her honest, yet often-harsh criticisms of the students, the great Diva reflects on the triumphs and tragedies of her own career as well as related aspects of her life and loves.

The Tony Award-winning play was written by Terrence McNally and opened on Broadway in 1995 starring Australian actress Zoe Caldwell with Audra McDonald as one of the featured singers. Both won Tony Awards for their performances. Other actresses who have taken on the role include Patti LuPone in the London production in 1997 and Tyne Daly in 2010 at the Kennedy Center and then on Broadway in 2011.

Another Callas biopic about Callas was...