Angelina Jolie is set to star in the upcoming spy thriller, "The Initiative," which will be co-directed by Doug Liman, known for directing "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."
Universal is in talks to take over the project, with screenwriter F. Scott Frazier ("Collide," "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage") on board, although details of the plot are not disclosed.
Production will be handled by Jeff Kirschenbaum via Roth/Kirschenbaum Films. RK Films has a long-standing relationship with Jolie, having produced Disney's "Maleficent" franchise, where she was featured.
Though certain plot details are being withheld, "The Initiative" also promises to bring Jolie back to her high-octane action thrillers that had made her a box office star, such as "Salt," "The Tourist," and "Wanted."
Should the Universal deal push through, the project will be developed by executive VP of production development Jay Polidoro and director of development Tony Ducret.
Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner Jolie was most recently lauded for her starring turn as opera diva Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's "Maria." She has several other projects on the horizon as well, including Alice Winocour's bilingual drama "Couture," on which she served as producer, and the film version of "Anxious People," directed by Marc Forster. Her directorial credits include "First They Killed My Father" (written by and produced with Jolie), the Oscar-nominated "Unbroken," and upcoming "Without Blood," starring Salma Hayek Pinault and Demian Bichir, based on Alessandro Baricco's novel. Jolie is also a Tony Award-winning producer of the Broadway musical "The Outsiders." She is with WME and Johnson Shapiro.
Director Doug Liman recently provided hits with "Roadhouse" for Amazon MGM Studios and "The Instigations" for Apple TV+. He continues his work with Universal, having also directed "The Bourne Identity" (2002) and "American Made" (2017) starring Tom Cruise. Liman and Cruise are developing a Universal project that will be shot all in space.
Liman, Frazier, and Kirschenbaum are repped by CAA, with Liman also represented by Weintraub Tobin and Frazier represented by McKuin Frankel.
Development of the project was first announced by The Hollywood Reporter.
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