One of the greatest actors to ever leap into the world of action is all set to return, as Academy Award-winnerAngelina Joliereunites withMr. & Mrs. SmithdirectorDoug Limanto lock and load again in a new spy thriller.
Jolie is well-versed in the world of action movies, having starred as video game icon Lara Croft in theTomb Raiderfranchise, played an assassin in the comic book adaptationWanted, and joined the MCU in 2021’sEternals. The Hollywood icon also has ample experience in espionage,having played a spyin the likes ofSaltand Doug Liman’s ownMr. and Mrs. Smith, which saw the actress share the screen with Brad Pitt as a married couple who find out they are both secretly working as spies and assassins…and their respective assignments are to kill each other.
Now, Jolie is all set to return to the genre inThe Initiative, which will see her reunite withDoug Liman, who himself is no strangerto action thanks to the likes ofThe Bourne Identity, Edge of Tomorrow, and the recent remake ofRoad House. Universal is now reportedly close to wrapping up picking up the rights (viaTHR), with F. Scott Frazier (xXx: Return of Xander Cage) on board to write the script.
Production is eyeing an early 2026 star, with the action thriller being described as “Training Dayset in the world spycraft,” with Jolie “playing a rogue master spy named Bright who works outside the lines.” The rest of the logline reads…
“When a new agent named Charlie joins Bright’s team, he soon finds himself in situations where he isn’t sure whether his new boss is trying to kill him or simply is willing to do whatever is necessary to protect the free world.”
Taylor Sheridan Directed Angelina Jolie’s Most Underrated Action Thriller
One of Angelina Jolie’s most recent forays into the world action is also one of her most underrated, and sees the actress taking the lead inYellowstoneandTulsa Kingcreator Taylor Sheridan’sThose Who Wish Me Dead. Released in 2021, the action thriller finds Jolie starring as Hannah, “a smoke jumper still reeling from the loss of three lives she failed to save from a fire when she comes across a traumatized 12-year-old boy with nowhere else to turn.”
The action outing boasts areliably captivating performance from Jolie, who stars alongside an all-star cast that includes Jon Bernthal, Aidan Gillen, Nicholas Hoult, Tyler Perry, and Finn Little as Connor, the 12-year-old boy who finds himself the target of some very dangerous people. WhileThose Who Wish Me Deadwas met with a somewhat muted response from critics, landing a score of 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, the action thriller was a big hit with audiences, hitting highs of 86% on the Popcornmeter.
Jolie will next star in the upcoming dramaCouture, while Doug Liman is still signed on to helm thesupernatural thriller,Deeper, starring Tom Cruise, as well as the currently untitled SpaceX project that will see Cruise film in space.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
