Amanda Seyfried Transcends in the Stunning Teaser for THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE
Searchlight Pictures has unveiled the first teaser trailer for Mona Fastvold’s mesmerizing new film The Testament of Ann Lee, and people are saying it could end up to be one of the most unforgettable cinematic experiences of 2025.
After premiering to standing ovations at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, where it was hailed as a “Cinematic Revelation”, the film was quickly picked up by Searchlight and will arrive in theaters on Christmas Day, with an expanded rollout through early 2026.
Based on a true story, The Testament of Ann Lee follows British-born Ann Lee, the visionary founder of the Shaker movement, who was proclaimed by her followers to be the female Christ.
Amanda Seyfried steps into the role with a haunting, powerful grace, portraying Lee’s journey to establish a utopian society in America through faith, equality, song, and movement. The teaser captures both the spiritual fervor and the human cost of her devotion.
Searchlight Pictures describes the film as: “From award-winning director Mona Fastvold comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers.
“Amanda Seyfried stars as the Shaker's irrepressible leader, who preached gender and social equality and was revered by her followers. The Testament of Ann Lee captures the ecstasy & agony of her quest to build a utopia, featuring more than a dozen traditional Shaker hymns reimagined as rapturous movements.”
The film also stars Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, Stacy Martin, Matthew Beard, Viola Prettejohn, Scott Handy, Jamie Bogyo, and David Cale. The combination of this ensemble with Fastvold’s distinct visual storytelling promises something deeply immersive.
The film reunites Fastvold with her The Brutalist co-writer and husband Brady Corbet, who co-wrote the screenplay.
The Testament of Ann Lee opens in select theaters on December 25th, 2025, including special 70mm screenings.