Angelina Jolie has signed on direct Unreasonable Behaviour, a biopic of British war photographer Don McCullin, which Tom Hardy will also produce.
Gregory Burke (’71) will adapt McCullin’s autobiography of the same name. Hardy and Dean Baker will produce via their Hardy Son & Baker banner alongside Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title.
Unreasonable Behaviour – the autobiography – is described as an unflinching account of McCullin’s hair-raising life, which took him from poverty-stricken London to some of the world’s most dangerous war zones. He risked his life many times to capture harrowing wartime images that resonated around the world.
“I am humbled to have a chance to bring Don McCullin’s life to film. I was drawn to his unique combination of fearlessness and humanity – his absolute commitment to witnessing the truth of war, and his empathy and respect for those who suffer its consequences”, Jolie said in a statement.
This project sounds similar to 2018’s A Private War, which focused on journalist Marie Colvin, who, while not a war photographer, did frequently visit countries in the middle of ongoing and dangerous civil wars. Joachim Trier‘s Louder Than Bombs also followed a similar character as a part of its central family, though this one was fictional.
Hardy has been developing this project for several years and was at one point attached to play McCullin himself, though that no longer seems to be the case. One imagines if Hardy was starring, that would have been part of the press release.
In that case it’s safe to assume that the film will star someone else. Perhaps Jack O’Connell makes sense, as he starred in ’71, which Burke wrote, as well as Unbroken, which Jolie directed, so there’s plenty of familiarity there.
We’ll wait and see what happens as the project develops. Jolie will next be seen on screen in Marvel’s Eternals, while she also has neo-western thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead and drama Every Note Played in the works. Hardy has the awkwardly titled Venom sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, due next year.
#Peace.Love.UnreasonableBehaviour
