Angelina Jolie to direct First They Killed My Father for release via Netflix

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Angelina Jolie has already found her next directorial effort. With her romantic drama BY THE SEA set to hit theaters in the fall, everything appeared to be leading towards her next film being the ivory-poaching drama AFRICA, but there had been issues with the financing on that film. Instead, Jolie will helm FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER which will be financed and released via Netflix.

According to the press release, Jolie will begin production on FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER later this year before a global rollout via Netflix and film festivals in 2016. It also confirms Jolie will begin work on AFRICA following the completion of this film.

FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER is based on the 2000 memoir by Loung Ung, a Cambodian orphan who was forced to work in child labor camps and train to be a soldier when the Khmer Rouge took power in 1975. Angelina Jolie has co-written the film with Ung and her son Maddox, who was born in Cambodia, will be involved in the film's production as well. Jolie had this to say about the film.

“I was deeply affected by Loung’s book,” commented Jolie Pitt. “It deepened forever my understanding of how children experience war and are affected by the emotional memory of it. And it helped me draw closer still to the people of Cambodia, my son’s homeland.” She added, “It is a dream come true to be able to adapt this book for the screen, and I’m honored to work alongside Loung and filmmaker Rithy Panh.”

Netflix continues to nab major talents who have unconventional films that may otherwise get lost in the shuffle of studio releases and politics. Angelina Jolie joins other stars like Brad Pitt and Adam Sandler who have committed to producing and releasing films via the streaming service powerhouse. While the movies may not be massive blockbuster films, I don't think we are too far away from seeing Netflix tackle a project that size.

FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER will debut on Netflix in late 2016.