Oscar winner Anne Hathaway is stepping behind the mic, and fully into pop stardom, with the release of “Burial,” the first single from her upcoming film Mother Mary.
On March 5, indie studio A24 unveiled the track across streaming platforms, offering audiences their first taste of the psychological drama’s original music. The synth-driven song arrives months ahead of the film’s theatrical debut and marks the beginning of the movie’s long-anticipated soundtrack rollout.
“Burial” positions Hathaway not just as the film’s lead actor, but as a central creative voice in its music. The track was co-written with pop provocateur Charli XCX, producer and songwriter Jack Antonoff, and George Daniel of The 1975 (who also happens to be Charli XCX’s husband).
The result is a polished synth-pop track that leans into dramatic vocals and a hypnotic hook built around the line: “This is your burial.”
A Teaser of the Film’s Onstage Spectacle
Alongside the single, A24 released a short teaser video titled Greatest Hits (Official Album Teaser) on YouTube. The clip runs just 30 seconds but gives a glimpse of Hathaway fully transformed into the film’s fictional pop icon.
Under bright stage lights, Hathaway performs to a roaring crowd, hinting at the scale of the character’s fame and the concert-like sequences that appear throughout the film. The brief preview also features snippets of other songs expected to appear on the soundtrack.
The teaser marks the first new promotional material since the film’s trailer debuted in December, fueling anticipation among fans of both pop music and auteur cinema.
A Star-Studded Ensemble
While Hathaway takes center stage as the enigmatic performer known as Mother Mary, the film’s cast stretches across film, fashion and music.
The ensemble includes Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Alba Baptista, Sian Clifford and FKA twigs.
The film is directed by David Lowery, the filmmaker behind the medieval fantasy The Green Knight. Lowery’s projects often blend emotional character studies with striking visual worlds, making him an intriguing choice for a story centered on celebrity and identity.
Beyond “Burial,” the film’s soundtrack was developed by a team that includes FKA twigs, Antonoff and Charli XCX, who collaborated on several original songs written specifically for the story.
The Story Behind Mother Mary
At its core, Mother Mary explores the complicated bond between two women whose lives were shaped by fame.
The film follows a legendary pop star preparing for a high-stakes comeback performance. In the days leading up to the show, she reconnects with her estranged best friend and former costume designer, Sam Anselm, played by Coel.
Their reunion forces both characters to confront unresolved history and the pressures that come with building a public persona.
According to the film’s official synopsis, old wounds surface as the two women revisit the past while navigating the spectacle surrounding Mother Mary’s return to the stage.
Hathaway on Becoming a Beginner Again
Hathaway previously spoke about the process of transforming into a global pop star during an interview with Vogue for her August 2025 cover story.
The publication described her character as a blend of modern music icons like Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, an artist whose fame has shaped every part of her identity.
To portray that level of musical authority, Hathaway said she had to embrace the vulnerability of learning a completely new skill set.
“I had to submit to being a beginner,” she told the magazine. “Showing up every day knowing you’re going to suck, and being okay with that. You’re not bad. You’re just starting.”
The actor described the experience as humbling but ultimately freeing. Stepping outside her comfort zone required letting go of old habits, a process she called difficult yet transformative.
When the Film Hits Theaters
Fans won’t have to wait much longer to see the full performance. Mother Mary will arrive in limited theaters April 17 before expanding nationwide April 24.
If “Burial” is any indication, the film’s soundtrack may become a major talking point when it lands. Between its experimental pop collaborators and Hathaway’s unexpected turn as a vocalist, Mother Mary is shaping up to be one of A24’s most unusual releases of the year.
And if the new single is a preview of the drama to come, Mother Mary’s comeback era is already underway.
