Tag Archives: Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie Will Direct Unbroken Adaptation

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It was announced this week by Universal Pictures and Walden Media that actress turned director and producer Angelina Jolie is in talks to direct an upcoming big screen adaption of the New York Times bestselling novel “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” by Laura Hillenbrand (“Seabiscuit: An American Legend”).

The novel was originally published in 2012 and follows  the incredible life story of Olympian and war hero Louis Zamperini who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner of war camp. The book has sat atop the New York Timesbestseller list for more than 108 consecutive weeks, fourteen of those at number one. It was also the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book of the Year Award for Nonfiction.

“In her life and in her work, Angelina has embraced stories and causes involving great struggle and triumph over tremendous odds and the basic human condition,” said Adam Fogelson and Co-Chairman Donna Langley. “She has a real ability to illustrate the strength in human spirit which will be essential in telling Lou’s story of survival and great heroism.”

Walden Media Chief Executive Officer, Michael Bostick echoed their sentiment and said,

“We’re thrilled that Angelina will bring this epic story to the big screen. Lou’s is one of history’s most incredible and inspiring stories, and we are excited to partner with such a passionate filmmaker to share it with audiences all over the world.”

Unbroken will mark Jolie’s second time as director and producer following her critically acclaimed directorial debut in 2011’s In the Land of Blood and Honey, and her first time directing a major studio film.

“I read Laura Hillenbrand’s brilliant book, and I was so moved by Louie Zamperini’s heroic story, I immediately began to fight for the opportunity to make this film,” said Jolie. “Louie is a true hero and a man of immense humanity, faith and courage. I am deeply honored to have the chance to tell his inspiring story.”

Unbroken is being co-financed and co-produced by Universal and Walden Media. There is no word yet on who is expected to star in the adaptation or a projected release date.

First Photo of Angelina Jolie As Maleficent Revealed

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Walt Disney Studios announced the beginning of production on the upcoming film Maleficient by releasing the first photo showing actress Angelina Jolie in the titular role.

The film is being directed by the two-time Oscar winning production designer Robert Stromberg most known for his work on hit films such as Avatar and Alice in Wonderland. This will be his directorial debut. Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay with the project being executive produced by Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Matt Smith and Palak Patel.

Sharlto Copley, known for his role in District 9, Elle Fanning, from Super 8, and Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville will be co-starring in the production.

Maleficent focuses on the side of the story according the villain from the classic Sleeping Beauty. It will reveal what caused the evil queen to be so hardened and what drive her to curse baby Aurora. In the original movie, she is the self-proclaimed “Mistress of All Evil” who, after not being invited to the baby’s christening, curses the infant Princess Aurora to “prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die” before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday. The character is Disney’s half-dragon adaptation of the evil fairy godmother from the original fairy tale.

The character is also one of the most “loved” and well known of the evil villains from Disney films.

Maleficent is scheduled for a March 14, 2014 release in 3D.

Casting Update For Walt Disney’s Maleficent

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It was announced quite a bit ago that Angelina Jolie will star as the titular character in Maleficent, a new take on the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. And now several other cast members have finally been added to the project.

Imelda Staunton, from the Harry Potter series, and Miranda Richardson (Sleepy Hollow) have also joined the cast. According to the blog from Hollywood Reporter, Staunton and Lesley Manville will be playing the characters of Knotgrass and Flittle, respectively. The characters are “two of the three pixies that end up taking care of Aurora.”

The new project comes from Director Robert Stromberg, most known for his work on Pan’s Labyrinth. 

According to Heat Vision, Elle Fanning, star of Super 8, has officially been added to the cast as the Princess. As for Queen Ulla, Richardson will be “a Fairy Queen who is Maleficent’s aunt with a dislike of her niece.”

Kenneth Cranham (Made in Dagenham) and Sam Riley (Brighton Rock) have also joined the production, which is set to begin filming in June.

Cranham will be playing the role of the human king who plots to conquer the fairy kingdom. Riley will portray Diaval, a character described as a raven who changes into human form and is Maleficent’s right hand.”

Sharlto Copely has also been announced to be going the cast in the lead role of Stefan, “the half-human, half-fairy bastard son of the human king.”

Maleficent tells the story from the point of view of the witch who cursed Aurora to a permanent sleep on her 16th birthday. The character of Maleficent is often viewed as the most powerful and sinister of the Disney Villains, frequently acting as their leader in many genre crossovers, and her scenes in the climax of the film are among the darkest and most intense produced by Disney. In Ultimate Disney’s top 30 Disney Villains countdown, Maleficent ranked #1.She also plays a major role in the Kingdom Hearts series, as a recurring villain.

It is projected to be released March 14, 2014.