Amanda Seyfried was recording vocals in a London studio when director Mona Fastvold played her 18th-century Shaker hymns. “I started crying,” Seyfried admitted to Variety. “I didn’t realize how emotionally powerful this music would be.”
$62 Million Period Musical
The Testament of Ann Lee follows the founder of the Shaker religious movement, starring Amanda Seyfried in the title role. A24 invested $62 million in this ambitious period musical – their largest budget since Priscilla and triple what they spent on most productions.
Norwegian director Mona Fastvold (The World to Come) spent five years developing this passion project about Ann Lee, the 18th-century English woman who founded the United Society of Believers. The Shakers rejected marriage, practiced celibacy, and believed in gender equality decades before women’s suffrage movements.
Seyfried, 39, trained for six months in traditional Shaker dance movements – their worship involved elaborate choreography they called “laboring.” She also studied historical Lancashire dialect with the same coach who worked on The Crown. Her singing voice, showcased in Mamma Mia! (2008) and Les Misérables (2012), handles the challenging a cappella Shaker hymns.
Period Authenticity
The Testament of Ann Lee trailer reveals stunning production design recreating 1770s Manchester and upstate New York. Costume designer Sandy Powell (The Favourite, Carol) researched actual Shaker garments in museum collections, creating 400 period-accurate outfits.
Cinematographer Ari Wegner (The Power of the Dog) shot on 35mm film in natural light whenever possible. One sequence showing 200 Shakers dancing in unison required three weeks of rehearsal and a five-day shoot. The practical approach to period filmmaking cost significantly more than CGI alternatives but creates tangible authenticity.
The musical score by Nicholas Britell (Moonlight, Succession) adapts traditional Shaker hymns including “Simple Gifts” while composing original songs matching 18th-century musical structures. All performances were recorded live on set rather than dubbed in post-production.
Ensemble Cast
Thomasin McKenzie plays young follower Lucy Wright, who historically succeeded Lee as Shaker ministry leader. Stanley Tucci portrays William Lee, Ann’s abusive husband whose cruelty drove her toward religious revelation. Paul Mescal appears as James Whittaker, a early convert who helped establish the first American Shaker community.
The Testament of Ann Lee covers 1770 through Lee’s death in 1784, spanning her persecution in England, imprisonment for blasphemy, and eventual immigration to America where Shaker communities thrived until the 20th century.
Fastvold’s screenplay draws from Lee’s documented visions and the testimonies of early Shakers. While taking creative liberties with some dialogue and composite characters, the film maintains historical accuracy about Lee’s genuine influence on American religious movements.
December 2025 Release
A24 scheduled theatrical release for December 20, 2025, positioning it as awards season contender. The studio believes The Testament of Ann Lee could replicate Little Women’s success – that 2019 period film earned $218 million worldwide and six Oscar nominations.
Early test screenings in September scored exceptionally high with female audiences over 30. A24’s challenge is marketing a musical about religious celibacy to broader demographics. The studio’s positioning it as feminist historical epic rather than traditional faith-based film.
Seyfried’s performance apparently showcases her most mature dramatic work yet. Industry insiders suggest she’s finally getting a role worthy of Oscar consideration after supporting nominations for Mank (2020). Her ability to convey spiritual ecstasy through song and movement creates the film’s emotional center.
The musical genre has proven commercially viable recently – Wicked earned $634 million, Wonka made $634 million, and even Mean Girls musical remake grossed $104 million. The Testament of Ann Lee offers something different – adult historical drama with authentic period music rather than pop sensibility.
Whether A24’s $62 million investment pays off depends on finding the audience for sophisticated musical storytelling. If Fastvold’s vision connects emotionally, this could introduce mainstream viewers to the fascinating history of America’s most successful utopian community.
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