Universal Pictures has set Angelina Jolie to star alongside James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman in Wanted, the graphic novel adaptation to be directed by Timur Bekmambetov. The movie will be Jolie’s next, with shooting to begin in Eastern Europe in May.
McAvoy will play a young man who discovers his father is an assassin, only to learn shortly thereafter that his dad has been murdered. The youth is drafted to follow in his father’s footsteps. Jolie will play an assassin who teaches the ropes to the wannabe killer.
The script was originated by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, and Jolie took the role after a rewrite by Dean Georgaris (Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life) to tailor the character for her.
Marc Platt, Jim Lemley, Jason Netter and Iain Smith will produce.
The deal marks the second recent Universal commitment for Jolie, who’ll star this fall for director Clint Eastwood in drama The Changeling, to be produced by Imagine Entertainment partners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard and Malpaso’s Rob Lorenz.
