Angelina Jolie and director Doug Liman, known for their collaboration on the hit film Mr. and Mrs. Smith, are joining forces again for a new high-stakes spy thriller.
After a fierce bidding war among multiple studios, Universal has secured the rights to The Initiative, a gripping project featuring Jolie as the lead, Liman directing, and a screenplay by F. Scott Frazier. The production will be helmed by Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum of RK Films, a company with a strong track record, having recently delivered Netflix’s Damsel and Sony’s romantic comedy hit Anyone But You. RK Films previously collaborated with Jolie on Disney’s blockbuster Maleficent series.
The story, likened to “Training Day in the world of espionage,” centers on Bright, a rogue master spy played by Jolie, who operates beyond conventional rules to take down dangerous threats. When a rookie agent, Charlie, joins her team, he’s thrust into a high-pressure world where he questions whether Bright is mentoring him, testing him, or putting his life on the line to safeguard global security. Universal and the filmmakers are fast-tracking the project, aiming to begin filming in early 2026.
The studio’s executive vice president of production development, Jay Polidoro, and director of development, Tony Ducret, will oversee the project’s progress.
