How Taylor Swift's Reputation concert film influenced Anne Hathaway's Mother Mary

Hathaway plays a global pop star in the film, which is slated for release on April 17.

How Taylor Swift inspired the film

In a recent interview with Empire, director David Lowery revealed that the concert sequences in Mother Mary were heavily inspired by Swift’s 2018 Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour.

“Her Reputation concert film is one of the best ever. It’s truly phenomenal. For our concert sequences, we looked at that repeatedly,” he said, adding, “You would not believe the amount of time we spent talking about Taylor.”

Anne Hathaway performing at a concert in Mother Mary. Photo: Screen-grab/trailer video

Anne Hathaway’s role in the film

Best known for The Devil Wears Prada and The Princess Diaries, Hathaway plays the central character Mother Mary, a globally famous pop icon.

Her role goes beyond performance, portraying a complex public figure navigating the pressures of fame, identity, and artistic expression.

The character explores the contrast between public persona and private self, highlighting how stardom can shape—and at times distort—individuality.

Hathaway’s performance reportedly includes intense musical sequences, emotional depth, and a layered relationship with a fashion designer, making it one of her most transformative roles in recent years.

About the Reputation Stadium Tour

A filmed version of a live concert, the Reputation Stadium Tour captures the scale and spectacle of Swift’s massively successful 2018 tour.

Shot during the Arlington, Texas stop, the film features high-energy choreography, elaborate stage design, and striking visuals that reflect the darker, edgier tone of her Reputation era.

Helped shape production on a tight budget

Lowery also revealed that the concert film served as a practical reference while working within budget constraints.

“We took three songs from Reputation and broke them down shot by shot, asking how much each would cost in visual effects,” he said.

“We used that as a budgeting tool because we didn’t know how to pull off a stadium concert show on a minimal budget. We were literally using Reputation as a guide—I can go on about it all day,” he added.