The Testament of Ann Lee: Amanda Seyfried Shines in Mona Fastvold’s Historical Musical Drama

Amanda Seyfried stars in the highly anticipated historical drama musical “The Testament of Ann Lee,” which is directed by the well-known filmmaker Mona Fastvold. The movie tells the story of Ann Lee, the visionary founder of the Shaker Movement in the 18th century. She is known for her spiritual leadership and her work for gender and social equality. This epic period drama includes more than a dozen original Shaker hymns turned into lively musical numbers, which add to the film’s emotional depth and realism.

At the prestigious 82nd Venice International Film Festival, “The Testament of Ann Lee” premiered in competition and wowed critics and audiences alike. It got a long standing ovation, with many praising Seyfried’s amazing performance, which is already getting a lot of Oscar buzz. Fastvold, who co-wrote the movie with Brady Corbet, is working with the same producer team that made their last Oscar-winning movie, “The Brutalist.” This makes people even more excited about this big project.

Searchlight Pictures will release the movie in a few theaters on December 25, 2025. Mona Fastvold, the director, has signed with London-based Magna Studios in addition to her festival success. She wants to grow her creative portfolio and bring bold, original stories to audiences all over the world. “The Testament of Ann Lee” has a great cast, including Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Tim Blake Nelson, and Christopher Abbott. It promises to be a spiritually deep and musically rich movie for the holiday season and awards season.