Universal has premiered the following three first look images from the set of Angelina Jolie‘s sophomore directorial effort, Unbroken, based on The New York Times bestselling book “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” by Laura Hillenbrand following the incredible life story of Olympian and war hero Louis Zamperini (Jack O’Connell) 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.
[amz asin=”1400064163″ size=”small”]Universal has already set a Christmas Day 2014 release for the pic, which co-stars Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund, Alex Russell, Jai Courtney, Finn Wittrock and John Magaro. As far as O’Connell is concerned, you’ll have a chance to get familiar with him early next year when he plays Calisto in Warner Bros.’ 300: Rise of an Empire.
The project has a long history at Universal Pictures, which first acquired the rights to tell Zamperini’s life story in 1957, planned as a starring vehicle for Tony Curtis as his follow-up to Spartacus.
Jolie and Zamperini, neighbors in the Hollywood Hills, have become close friends over the development of the film, as the filmmaker has listened to the war hero recount the incredible incidents of his life over many months of preparation, thus the photo of the two at the top of this post.
Jolie began shooting some of the more challenging scenes on Wednesday, October 16, on location far out at sea in Moreton Bay, Australia. The cast and crew, with cameras on a floating rig in choppy waters and actors dieting for months to appear as depleted as their characters, had a successful first day of shooting. Check out the three new pictures directly below.
