Angelina Jolie Pitt is adding another feather to her hat in committing to be the executive producer of an animated film adaptation of "The Breadwinner," an award-winning novel written by Deborah Ellis. The movie version will be directed by Nora Towmey.
"The Breadwinner" is about a girl named Parvana who has to work and disguise herself as a man--much like "Mulan" but in an Afghan setting.
According to Collider, "The Breadwinner" is a story about a young girl's life under the Taliban rule. It has about 39 editions of English-language, and this year will be the celebration of its 15th publication anniversary.
Jolie is no stranger to the refugee crisis as she was appointed as Special Envoy for Refugee Issues for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Jolie has travelled to many different countries to represent the UNHCR in "engaging with decision makers on global displacement issues." Before being Special Envoy, she was a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations.
"Millions of young girls like Parvana are growing up today under oppression or conflict, and [at the same time] helping their families to survive in those conditions. This story is a reminder of the immense value of their contribution," Jolie said of the film, in an interview with Variety. "I am delighted to be working with a talented team of artists who I know will do justice to the richness, creativity and strength of Afghan culture and to little girls like Parvana," said the Envoy.
The film will be produced by Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions. Other producers apart from Jolie are Tomm Moore, Paul Young, Andrew Rosen and Stephan Roelants.
Jolie will next be seen on the big screen with her husband Brad Pitt in the drama "By the Sea," which she wrote and directed. The film will be released this Nov. 13. She will also direct a Netflix movie based on the non-fiction book "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers," which will be released on the streaming service by the latter part of 2016.
