After completing her feature directorial debut with 2011′s Bosnian War-set drama, In the Land of Blood and Honey, multi-hyphenate Angelina Jolie has been mum on what her next directing gig will be (though we did get those hilarious rumors that she was on deck to helm Fifty Shades of Grey), so it does come as a bit of a surprise that we’re first catching wind of her probable next project, an adaptation of Laura Hillenbrand‘s bestselling “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” via press release. Curiouser still is the fact that the release only says Jolie is “in talks” to direct the film, as such official announcements are usually reserved for, well, more official announcements. What does that mean? Yeah, this is probably a done deal.
Jolie is “in talks” to helm the film for Universal Pictures and Walden Media, one which 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.” That’s right, Jolie is going back to a war camp for her next feature. Can’t someone get her a rom-com? We’re sad already.
Of the book, Jolie commented, “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…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.”
The script comes with a first draft by Richard LaGravenese and a new version by William Nicholson.
You can take a peek inside the novel, over at Amazon. [Universal Pictures, via ComingSoon]