Angelina Jolie Talks About Being Back in the Director’s Chair for ‘Without Blood’

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Prime Video has inked an overall creative deal with Italian writer-director Antonio Dikele Distefano, who is the originator of groundbreaking Netflix original series “Zero” that in 2021 marked Italy’s first show centered around the present-day lives of black Italian youth. Dikele, who was born in Italy to Angolan parents, is now making his feature film debut with an Amazon original film titled “Autumn Beat,” a coming-of-age drama about two brothers named Tito and Paco, who grew up in Milan and have the same dream: to break into the rap music world. “The duo seem destined for success—Paco is a born performer and Tito knows how to write like no other—but ambition, life, and love for the same woman will test their bond,” says the provided synopsis.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italian director Paolo Virzì (“Human Capital,” “Like Crazy”) is in Venice where his dystopic drama “Siccità,” which means drought in Italian, is premiering out-of-competition. The innovative pic, which features an A-list ensemble cast comprising Monica Bellucci, Sara Serraiocco (“Counterpart”) and Silvio Orlando (“The Young Pope”), is set amid a protracted drought caused by climate change in the Italian capital where the Tiber has dried up. Virzì spoke to Variety about how “Siccità” germinated during COVID-19 and was shot amid tight pandemic protocols. Excerpts. You worked with novelist and screenwriter Paolo Giordano on the concept and the script for this film. How did the collaboration start?

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent With “Chiara,” Susanna Nicchiarelli’s portrait of Saint Clare of Assisi – the 13th century saint born into a wealthy family who at age 18 became a nun after hearing St. Francis preach – the Italian director completes her trilogy of female biopics, segueing from “Nico, 1988” and “Miss Marx,” which both launched from Venice’s Horizons section. With “Chiara,” she makes the leap into the main Venice competition. Nicchiarelli spoke to Variety about what drew her to portraying this prototypical feminist and directing “My Brilliant Friend” star Margherita Mazzucco in the pic’s titular role. Excerpts. What drove you to want to tell us this story about St. Clare?Well, first of all, I was always passionate about Saint Francis. I have a very strong memory when I first saw Franco Zeffirelli’s “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.” I was at school when they showed it to us and this boy, this man, taking his clothes off in front of the Bishop. That was a very strong image. Francis’ battle speaks to us just as much today because it’s a battle for poverty, against social injustice. It’s about being on the side of the poor, of those who are different, and the injustices of a society in which very few have everything and then most have nothing. So, this was their battle. The medieval society was like that. It’s not so different from the way it is now.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italian director Stefano Sollima, who is known in Hollywood for “Sicario: Day of the Soldado,” “Without Remorse” and TV show “Gomorrah,” is back behind camera on a contemporary Rome-set crimer titled “Adagio.” Shooting started Sept. 5 on “Adagio” which features an ensemble cast of Italian A-listers comprising Pierfrancesco Favino (“Nostalgia”), Toni Servillo (“The Great Beauty”), Valerio Mastandrea (“Perfect Strangers”) and Adriano Giannini (“The Ties”). “I am eager and full of enthusiasm about finally returning to depict my city after all these years. Rome has changed, and so have I,” Sollima said in a statement for Variety. He went on to describe “Adagio” as a dark story of revenge and redemption, which will be the last chapter of my Roman criminal trilogy.”

It looks like Angelina Jolie might be adding a new pet to the family!

Angelina Jolie‘s latest moves against Brad Pitt. Does this hurt their kids??? This and much more on our latest podcast! CLICK HERE to listen to the newest episode of The Perez Hilton Podcast with Chris Booker in full at PerezPodcast.com

Angelina Jolie is very reserved when it comes to details about her personal life, she gave fans a rare glimpse into an aspect of her home that she truly treasures.MORE: Angelina Jolie steps out for special night with rarely-seen daughter VivienneThe star doesn't often share insights of either her family life or peeks into her home, so fans were quick to express gratitude for her candid post.Angelina took to Instagram to share with fans a very special photo she has framed in her residence that she holds near her heart, honoring one of her favorite artists.WATCH: Angelina and Brad Pitt's daughter Shiloh shows off impressive movesMORE: Top 8 celebrity back to school photos 2022: Angelina Jolie, Gabrielle Union & moreThe post captures a photo of a polaroid portrait of the Maleficent lead posing alongside popular contemporary artist Ai Weiwei, who is a beloved fixture in the art community.The photo, which was taken in Italy, sees the actress donning her signature oversized black sunglasses, smiling as she poses next to the Chinese documentarian.She shared the photo alongside a heartfelt tribute to Ai, writing in her caption: "I have this up in my home.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italian director Emanuele Crialese broke out with 2002 Cannes Critics Week winner “Respiro,” followed by “Nuovomondo” and “Terraferma,” which both scooped prizes in Venice. He’s back on the Lido with his ambitious, boldly personal drama “L’immensità.” Set in 1970s Rome, the film features Penélope Cruz as the mother of two children, one of whom is a 12-year-old named Adriana who wants to change her name and gender identity and convince everyone that she is male. In his director’s note, Crialese calls “L’immensità” a memory-based film for which he needed the necessary time, distance and self-awareness to make. Though not strictly autobiographical, it is based on the director’s personal experience transitioning. As Crialese tells Variety, Adriana’s character is a representation of himself.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Production has just started at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios on “Finalmente L’alba” the new film by “My Brilliant Friend” director Saverio Costanzo. It is set during the 1950s when the famed filmmaking facilities were known as Hollywood on the Tiber.  This high-end costume drama – the title of which translates as “Finally, Dawn Has Come” – features a stellar cast comprising Lily James (“Pam & Tommy”), Joe Keery (“Stranger Things”), Rachel Sennott (“Shiva Baby”), Willem Dafoe, and Italian newcomer Rebecca Antonaci. “Finalmente” is the journey over the course of a long and intense night of an aspiring young Italian actress, played by Antonaci. In the Cinecittà studios of the 1950s, she experiences some memorable hours that will mark her transition to full blown womanhood.

Forgetting their exes: it looks like some ink and relationships may not last forever. Four days after Sylvester Stallone’s wife Jennifer Flavin filed for divorce, the "Rocky" star covered up a large tattoo – a tribute to his partner – with an illustration of his bullmastiff, Butkus. Meanwhile, after Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton split in 2002, the actress removed his name from her upper left arm, but kept the dragon that was beneath it.

Taking the high road. Brad Pitt still wants ex-wife Angelina Jolie to be “happy” amid their winery drama, a source exclusively reveals in the latest issue of Us Weekly.

Angelina Jolie and her youngest daughter were guests at “Dear Evan Hansen,” in Philadelphia. The show’s official social media account shared a behind the scenes photo of Angelina and her daughter Vivienne, posing alongside the cast of the show.Angelina Jolie wears all white as she goes shopping with her son Knox in Los AngelesAngelina Jolie hires two of her kids to work in new film ‘Without Blood’A post shared by Dear Evan Hansen (@dearevanhansen)The post was shared via Instagram and features two photos.

Angelina Jolie had the perfect mother-daughter night out with 14-year-old daughter Vivienne Jolie-Pitt over the weekend. The two attended a performance of at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they got the opportunity to meet members of the cast backstage.«Waving back at @angelinajolie and Vivianne this weekend in Philly,» the series of photos, posted on the official Instagram page for the Broadway musical, was captioned.

Angelina Jolie is taking her kids to the big screen! The Hollywood star revealed that she hired her two sons, 21-year-old Maddox and 18-year-old Pax, to work on her new film ‘Without Blood’ starring Salma Hayek and Demian Bichir.The 47-year-old actress, who recently had the support of her kids during a “tough” personal experience, is directing the upcoming production and wanted her kids to work behind the scenes of the film.Angelina explained to People that both Maddox and Pax “worked hard” on the set of the project in Italy, working in the assistant director’s department.

Salma Hayek Pinault is singing her friend Angelina Jolie‘s praises as a writer and director following the conclusion of production on the film .

Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie got candid about working with her sons on the new film "Without Blood." "We work well together. When a film crew is at its best, it feels like a big family, so it felt natural," Jolie said in a new interview with People magazine.