The tragic fate of journalist Daniel Pearl – murdered by his kidnappers in – has provided material for two books and now two films.
While the freshly fictionalised version – Who Killed Daniel Pearl? – is trundling into production with Josh Lucas playing a man investigating Pearl’s death, the real-life tale is getting some heftier star wattage and a top-notch director to boot.
Mariane Pearl’s memoir** A Mighty Heart** will see Angelina Jolie playing Pearl’s widow, while Michael Winterbottom will direct and has co-written the film with Laurence Coriat. He’s scheduled to start shooting in the next five weeks.
"I am delighted that Angelina Jolie will be playing my role in the adaptation of my book," Pearl told Variety. "I deeply admire her work and what she is committed to. I am also happy that Michael Winterbottom a versatile and talented director who genuinely loves truth will be working on this project as well."
It should be no surprise that Brad Pitt’s Plan B company is behind the film, with this scheduled as Jolie and Pitt’s first co-production since, well, their daughter Shiloh.