First photos from Angelina Jolie’s ‘Unbroken’

With the time-skipping rom-com “About Time” opening this weekend in theaters, photos were just released that include its rising star, Domhnall Gleeson, on the set of “Unbroken.” The second feature directed by Angelina Jolie, the film began production earlier this month.

“Unbroken” tells the true story of Louis “Louie” Zamperini, played by Jack O’Connell, who survived on a raft with two fellow crewmen for 47 days after being shot down in WWII, only to be captured and detained for two years as prisoners-of-war by the Japanese. Gleeson and Finn Wittrock play the other airmen who survived the harrowing ordeal.

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Adapted from Lauren Hillenbrand’s bestselling book of the same name, “Unbroken” has a rather impressive screenplay credit that includes William Nicholson, Richard LaGravenese and Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. The film is being shot by the Coen brothers’ frequent cinematographer, Roger Deakins.

Several film versions of Zamperini’s life have been in discussion over the years. The first was based on his 1950s autobiography, “Devil at My Heels,” with talks of Tony Curtis as the lead. In 1998, Nicholas Cage expressed interest after watching a CBS segment on Zamperini during the Nagano Olympics. The most recent rumors have Ryan Gosling starring as Zamperini in the “Unbroken” adaption. Now that Zamperini and his son are involved, hopefully he’ll finally get to see his story told on the big screen. - See more at: https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/11/unbroken-louis-zamperini-laura-hillenbrand.html#sthash.2p24X2Fl.dpuf
Zamperini, now 96, competed in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, where he personally met Adolf Hitler. His story has almost been brought to the screen numerous times before, starting in the 1950s when Tony Curtis was in talks to star in an adaptation of Zamperini’s memoir “Devil At My Heels.” Nicolas Cage was said to be interested in the story in the 1990s, while more recently Ryan Gosling was rumored to be starring in an adaptation of “Unbroken.”

Several film versions of Zamperini’s life have been in discussion over the years. The first was based on his 1950s autobiography, “Devil at My Heels,” with talks of Tony Curtis as the lead. In 1998, Nicholas Cage expressed interest after watching a CBS segment on Zamperini during the Nagano Olympics. The most recent rumors have Ryan Gosling starring as Zamperini in the “Unbroken” adaption. Now that Zamperini and his son are involved, hopefully he’ll finally get to see his story told on the big screen - See more at: https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/11/unbroken-louis-zamperini-laura-hillenbrand.html#sthash.2p24X2Fl.dpuf
Several film versions of Zamperini’s life have been in discussion over the years. The first was based on his 1950s autobiography, “Devil at My Heels,” with talks of Tony Curtis as the lead. In 1998, Nicholas Cage expressed interest after watching a CBS segment on Zamperini during the Nagano Olympics. The most recent rumors have Ryan Gosling starring as Zamperini in the “Unbroken” adaption. Now that Zamperini and his son are involved, hopefully he’ll finally get to see his story told on the big screen. - See more at: https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/11/unbroken-louis-zamperini-laura-hillenbrand.html#sthash.2p24X2Fl.dpuf
Angelina Jolie’s “Unbroken” is scheduled for release on Christmas Day 2014.

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Follow Mark Olsen on Twitter: @IndieFocus