It’s not uncommon for Hollywood actors to transition into directing, and Angelina Jolie is no exception. She proved her directing chops with the 2014 war film Unbroken. However, considering how many movies she’s starred in recently, it’s worth asking why Jolie stopped directing.
CinemaBlend reports that Angelina Jolie has revealed that her decision to halt directing is due to practicality rather than preference, citing reasons linked to her personal life. She has returned to taking up acting projects owing to the circumstances surrounding her family, which could be related to her ongoing divorce with Brad Pitt and other legal issues. Directing, on the other hand, demands a greater chunk of one’s time compared to acting and typically requires a year-long commitment to steer a full-scale movie project. In contrast, acting can often feel like a break from work in comparison.
Angelina Jolie expressed her love for directing, but due to a recent change in her family situation, she has been unable to direct for a few years. In order to spend more time at home, she opted for shorter jobs and returned to acting. She stated that this is the reality of her current situation.
In 2016, Angelina Jolie ended her two-year marriage and twelve-year relationship with Brad Pitt due to irreconcilable differences. The divorce proceedings are still ongoing as they dispute over child custody and asset division. Recently, Jolie filed court documents alleging domestic violence during their marriage, potentially seeking a Family Code 3044 presumption. This would label Pitt as a previous domestic violence perpetrator, giving Jolie an advantage in their custody disputes. However, confirmation is pending as they are set to appear in court in spring 2021.
Angelina Jolie has a lot going on, which means that taking on the all-encompassing role of movie director just isn’t feasible for her. Instead, she has opted to focus on acting, which requires less time commitment. She has appeared in recent films such as Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Come Away, a fantasy drama that pays tribute to the stories of Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland.
Angelina Jolie’s next on-screen appearance will be in Those Who Wish Me Dead, a survival thriller film with a neo-Western theme. Her role is that of a veteran fire warden whose mission is to protect a teenager from assassins. In addition to this, Angelina will also appear as Thena in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Eternals (currently in post-production), which picks up from the events of Avengers: Endgame.
Despite her passion for directing, Angelina’s attention is currently focused elsewhere, and she won’t be behind the camera for some time. Nonetheless, she continues to enjoy acting and is selective about the roles she takes on.
