Angelina Jolie, a highly acclaimed actress with an Academy Award under her belt, has showcased her versatility by excelling in both action-packed films and romantic comedies. Her most iconic role remains that of Lara Croft in the 2001 movie Tomb Raider, and she has also starred in major hits like Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Wanted (2008), Salt (2010), and Maleficent (2014).
Angelina Jolie found herself playing Lara Croft in the film adaptation of the widely popular video game series. Prior to this, she had already proven her acting prowess in action-packed movies like Mr. and Mrs. Smith. However, what attracted her to work on Timur Bekmambetov’s Wanted was the film’s interesting storyline. On a different note, rumors circulated that Brad Pitt was willing to take drugs for Quentin Tarantino’s movie, despite it causing a rift in his relationship with Angelina Jolie. Regardless, it was the compelling plot of Wanted that ultimately convinced Angelina Jolie to take on the lead role in the action flick.
In 2008, Angelina Jolie gave an interview to MTV in which she expressed her desire to take on a physical role. Having done emotional films and spending time with her children, Jolie was seeking something different. When she stumbled upon the script for Wanted, she knew she had found something truly original. She commended the movie for its gripping storyline, its dark sense of humor, and its one-of-a-kind action scenes that were unlike anything she had seen before. This film marked Jolie’s return to action movies since her role in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, where she played a housewife who was actually an assassin. Notably, Jolie was particularly attracted to Wanted due to James McAvoy’s involvement.
When Angelina Jolie found out that Scottish actor James McAvoy was cast as the lead in the movie Wanted, she decided to join the cast. Jolie was intrigued by the “unusual” choice of McAvoy for the role, which motivated her to work on the project. Although Jolie found the character of Fox intriguing, she also found it challenging to be around. She believed that Fox was a far darker character than most typical female protagonists in movies.
