Get ready, because Angelina Jolie is back, and she's diving headfirst into a gritty, intense new thriller! Prepare to be captivated by Sunny, a dark and suspenseful film where Jolie takes on the role of a fiercely protective mother navigating the treacherous underworld. Eva Sørhaug, known for her work on Tokyo Vice and Yellowjackets, is directing this gripping story, which is being produced by Gramercy Park Media, A Higher Standard, and Nickel City Pictures.
In the vein of classic mafia dramas, Sunny plunges us into the life of a female gangster. She's battling to shield her sons and herself from a ruthless drug kingpin. But when a catastrophic event throws their lives into chaos, she has mere hours to orchestrate their escape.
The script, penned by William Day Frank, is based on a story he conceived with Sørhaug. The film boasts a strong production team, including Nathan Klingher from Gramercy Park Media, Jolie herself, Mark Fasano from Nickel City Pictures, and Jeffrey Greenstein from A Higher Standard. A Higher Standard is managing global sales, while WME Independent is co-representing domestic rights.
Mark Fasano of Nickel City Pictures shared his excitement, calling Jolie a "tour-de-force." He emphasized that viewers will be stunned by her portrayal of this compelling character. He added that the violent world crafted by Eva and Angelina is rooted in themes of survival and family, with a mother willing to do anything to protect her sons.
And this is the part most people miss... Gramercy Park's Nathan Klingher highlighted Jolie's unique take on the role, stating that the attention to detail she and Eva have brought to the film is remarkable. He also pointed out how rare strong, character-driven thrillers like this are.
Jolie's recent accolades include Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominations for her performance as opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's Maria. She also has several other exciting projects on the horizon, including Couture, a Fashion Week drama, the comedy Anxious People, and the spy thriller The Initiative, which reunites her with the director of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Doug Liman.
Sørhaug, the director, is a Norwegian filmmaker whose psychological thriller 90 Minutes premiered at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival. Her television credits include episodes of Ann Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order, Tokyo Vice, and Yellowjackets.
William Day Frank is also involved in the project.
But here's where it gets controversial... What do you think about Angelina Jolie taking on such a dark and intense role? Do you think she's the perfect fit, or do you have other actresses in mind who could have brought a different perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
