Angelina Jolie and Doug Liman, whose collaboration on the iconic "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" captivated audiences worldwide, are reuniting for another pulse-pounding thriller, this time immersed in the shadowy world of espionage. Amidst fierce competition from multiple studios, Universal Pictures is in the final stages of securing "The Initiative," a red-hot spy flick that boasts Jolie as its leading lady, Liman at the helm, and F. Scott Frazier penning the screenplay.
Producing the film are Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum of RK Films, a storied banner that has recently churned out Netflix's "Damsel" and Sony's romantic comedy sensation "Anyone But You." RK Films has also previously collaborated with Jolie on the lavish Disney fantasy franchise "Maleficent."
Dubbed as a "Training Day" redux within the realm of espionage, "The Initiative" finds Jolie portraying Bright, a rogue master spy who operates beyond the conventional boundaries (because, as countless films have taught us, sometimes it takes a villain to take down an even greater one). When Charlie, a fresh-faced agent, joins Bright's clandestine team, he finds himself in a whirlwind of confusion, unsure whether his enigmatic boss intends to eliminate him or merely go to any lengths to safeguard the free world.
With a targeted start of production in the first quarter of 2026, the studio and filmmakers are eager to expedite the project. Overseeing it for Universal are Jay Polidoro, Executive Vice President of Production Development, and Tony Ducret, Director of Development.
Jolie has effortlessly toggled between the fantastical realms of "Eternals" and the "Maleficent" films, and the dramatic depths of last year's Maria Callas biopic "Maria." "The Initiative" promises to propel her back into her thrilling and stylish action-thriller era, reminiscent of her roles in "Salt" and "The Tourist."
Last year, Liman unveiled two high-octane films: "Roadhouse," which emerged as one of Amazon MGM's biggest hits, and "The Instigators," streamed on Apple TV+. His bond with Universal runs deep, having launched the Bourne franchise with "The Bourne Identity" in 2002 and collaborating on "American Made," starring Tom Cruise, in 2017. Liman remains committed to "Deeper," an underwater event film starring and produced by Cruise, which has been postponed due to weather-dependent shooting conditions. He is also developing an untitled Universal Pictures space film, also starring Cruise.
Frazier, a seasoned screenwriter in the action genre, has contributed to films like "Collide," starring Nicholas Hoult and Anthony Hopkins, and "XXX: The Return of Xander Cage," which saw the return of Vin Diesel's action hero. Last year, he and collaborator Jimmy Loweree secured "Outdueled" in a bidding war won by Amazon.
Liman, Frazier, and Kirschenbaum are represented by CAA, with Liman also represented by Weintraub Tobin and Frazier by manager Chris Cowles at AllDayEveryDay and McKuin Frankel. Jolie is represented by WME and Johnson Shapiro.
Together, Jolie, Liman, and Frazier aim to craft a spellbinding espionage thriller that will captivate and thrill audiences alike.
