Angelina Jolie has lined up a new directing project today with Skydance Productions’ Africa, a sweeping epic based on Eric Roth’s screenplay about paleo-archaeologist Richard Leakey’s battle with ivory poachers that threaten the existence of the African elephant population and the very soul of Africa.
Written by Eric Roth, the film will be produced by David Ellison, Angelina Jolie, Dana Goldberg and Jon Peters. Renowned Cinematographer Roger Deakins, who also shot Jolie’s upcoming Unbroken, will reteam with the filmmaker for Africa.
“Based on Richard Leakey’s inspirational life, ‘Africa’ is a story that deserves to be told,” says Ellison. “It is very close to my heart, and I know that it will exceed my expectations in Angelina’s hands. She is an incredibly talented filmmaker and is sure to turn Eric Roth’s impeccable script into the project I’ve always wanted Skydance to be involved in.”
“I’ve felt a deep connection to Africa and its culture for much of my life, and was taken with Eric’s beautiful script about a man drawn into the violent conflict with elephant poachers who emerged with a deeper understanding of man’s footprint and a profound sense of responsibility for the world around him,” commented Angelina Jolie.
Jolie is currently in production on By the Sea for Universal which she is directing from her original script and in which she stars with Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent and Niels Arestrup. Before that, her movie Unbroken, based on author Laura Hillenbrand’s best-seller about Olympian and World War II POW survivor Louis Zamperini, will be released by Universal on Christmas Day.
(Photo Credit: Brian To / WENN.com)
