Jolie to play widow of reporter

For her first live-action role since giving birth, Angelina Jolie will star in "A Mighty Heart" as Mariane Pearl -- the widow of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was killed by terrorists.
In an intriguing twist, the movie is being co-produced by Jolie's boyfriend Brad Pitt and his Plan B production company. Pitt optioned the book back when he and Jennifer Aniston were still married and partners in Plan B. At that time, there was even talk Aniston was among the mix of actresses being considered for the Pearl role.
Filming is expected to begin within the next five weeks. The picture, which is based on Pearl's memoir, will focus on then-pregnant Pearl's search for her husband after he was abducted by Pakistani terrorists thought to be tied to al-Qaida through the time his mutilated body was discovered.

"I am delighted that Angelina Jolie will be playing my role in the adaptation of my book," Pearl told Daily Variety. "I deeply admire her work and what she is committed to."
The film will be directed by Michael Winterbottom, who previously made the Middle East-themed films, "The Road to Guantanamo" and "In This World."
"A Mighty Heart" is one of two films in the works related to the Pearl killing. Josh Lucas will star in "Who Killed Daniel Pearl," a fictionalized drama about a newsman (Lucas) who travels to Pakistan looking for the truth about the murder of a journalist friend. That film is expected to go before the cameras this fall and is based on the book written by Bernard-Henri Levy.
Earlier this week, Jolie announced she will voice a character in DreamWorks Animation's upcoming "Kung Fu Panda."