Get ready to be captivated by a gripping tale of survival and motherhood—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 the industry. But here’s where it gets even more intriguing: Sunny isn’t just another action flick. It’s a raw, emotional journey inspired by classic mafia films, centered around a female gangster who will stop at nothing to protect her sons from a ruthless drug kingpin. When tragedy strikes, she has only hours to plan their escape—a race against time that will test her limits in unimaginable ways.
Written by William Day Frank, who co-conceived the story with Sørhaug, Sunny is a collaboration between Gramercy Park Media, A Higher Standard, and Nickel City Pictures. Jolie joins forces with producers Nathan Klingher, Mark Fasano, and Jeffrey Greenstein, with A Higher Standard handling worldwide sales and WME Independent co-repping domestic distribution. And this is the part most people miss—the film’s intense focus on family and survival is what sets it apart, with Jolie delivering a performance that’s already being called a ‘tour-de-force.’
But here’s the controversial part: Can a story this violent and gritty truly honor the bonds of family? Mark Fasano of Nickel City Pictures believes so, praising Jolie’s ability to bring depth to a character that’s both fierce and vulnerable. Gramercy Park’s Nathan Klingher adds that Jolie has made the role ‘uniquely her own,’ elevating the film with her meticulous attention to detail. Yet, the question remains—how will audiences react to such a brutal portrayal of a mother’s love?
Fresh off her Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominations for Maria, where she played opera legend Maria Callas, Jolie’s slate is packed with diverse projects. From the TIFF-premiering Couture to the comedy Anxious People and the spy thriller The Initiative, she’s proving her range once again. Meanwhile, Sørhaug’s background in psychological thrillers, including her 2017 Toronto Film Festival premiere 90 Minutes, makes her the perfect director to bring Sunny’s complex narrative to life.
So, what do you think? Is Sunny a bold step forward for female-led thrillers, or does its violence overshadow its message? Let us know in the comments—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss!
