Get ready to be captivated by a gripping tale of survival and motherhood in the underworld—Angelina Jolie is set to star in and produce Sunny, a dark thriller that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat. Directed by the talented Eva Sørhaug, known for her work on Tokyo Vice and Yellowjackets, this film is already generating buzz in Hollywood circles. But here’s where it gets even more intriguing: Sunny isn’t just another crime drama; it’s a powerful exploration of a mother’s relentless fight to protect her sons from the clutches of a ruthless drug kingpin. When a catastrophic event flips their world upside down, she has only hours to orchestrate their escape—a race against time that will test her limits in unimaginable ways.
Inspired by the gritty realism of classic mafia films, Sunny dives deep into themes of family, survival, and the lengths one woman will go to safeguard those she loves. The script, penned by William Day Frank from a story co-conceived with Sørhaug, is a testament to the film’s strong character-driven narrative. Produced by Gramercy Park Media’s Nathan Klingher, Jolie herself, Nickel City Pictures’ Mark Fasano, and A Higher Standard’s Jeffrey Greenstein, in association with Choice Films, Sunny is poised to be a standout in the thriller genre. A Higher Standard will handle worldwide sales, with WME Independent co-representing domestic distribution.
And this is the part most people miss: Jolie’s involvement isn’t just about her star power—it’s about her transformative approach to the role. Fasano describes her as “a tour-de-force,” hinting that audiences will be stunned by her portrayal of this fierce, complex character. “The violent world Eva and Angelina have created is rooted in survival and family,” he explains, “led by a mother who stops at nothing to protect her boys.” Klingher adds, “Angelina has made this role uniquely her own. The attention to detail she and Eva have brought to the film is truly impressive.”
But here’s where it gets controversial: In an era where female-led thrillers often tread familiar ground, Sunny dares to challenge conventions. Is it possible for a film to balance brutal realism with emotional depth? Can a character as fierce as Jolie’s truly resonate with audiences, or will her actions spark debate about morality in extreme circumstances? We’ll have to wait and see—but one thing’s for sure: this film isn’t afraid to ask tough questions.
Fresh off her Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominations for Maria, where she portrayed opera legend Maria Callas, Jolie’s slate is packed with diverse projects. These include Alice Winocour’s Couture, a Fashion Week drama that premiered at TIFF, the Marc Forster comedy Anxious People, and The Initiative, a spy thriller reuniting her with Mr. & Mrs. Smith director Doug Liman. Represented by WME and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Kole, Jolie continues to push boundaries in her career.
Sørhaug, a Norwegian filmmaker whose psychological thriller 90 Minutes premiered at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival, brings her signature intensity to Sunny. Her recent TV work includes directing episodes of Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order for AMC, as well as Tokyo Vice and Yellowjackets. She is represented by WME, Industry Entertainment, Redefine Entertainment, and the Nord Group.
Day Frank, meanwhile, is repped by Sugar23 and Hansen Jacobson & Teller. With such a powerhouse team behind it, Sunny is shaping up to be more than just a thriller—it’s a bold statement about resilience, motherhood, and the human spirit. What do you think? Will Sunny redefine the thriller genre, or is it treading too close to familiar territory? Let us know in the comments!
