Angelina Jolie will appear in the spy thriller The Initiative, directed by Doug Liman.

      Angelina Jolie is making a comeback to action as THR reports that the actress will reunite with her Mr. and Mrs. Smith director Doug Liman for the spy thriller The Initiative. Written by F. Scott Frazier (xXx: Return of Xander Cage), The Initiative is characterized as "Training Day set in the realm of espionage," featuring Jolie in the role of Bright, a rogue spy master "who operates outside the rules (because sometimes a bad person is needed to take down those who are even worse, as films have shown us). When a new agent named Charlie joins Bright’s team, he quickly finds himself in situations where he is uncertain if his new boss is trying to kill him or is simply prepared to do whatever it takes to safeguard the free world."

      With Jolie involved, the project is anticipated to be fast-tracked for production in the first quarter of 2026, and it will mark the reunion of the Oscar-winning actress with producer Joe Roth of RK Films after their collaboration on Disney’s Maleficent and its sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. More casting announcements are expected soon.

      Jolie is coming off her Golden Globe-nominated performance as Maria Callas in last year’s biopic Maria, marking her return to acting after a break following Marvel’s Eternals in 2021. Liman also had a full year in 2024, with the release of Prime Video’s Road House remake featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as Apple TV+’s The Instigators starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck.

      About Gary Collinson: Gary Collinson is a producer and writer in film, TV, and digital content, known for founding the pop culture website Flickering Myth and producing the gothic horror feature film 'The Baby in the Basket' and the upcoming suspense thriller 'Death Among the Pines.'