Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for the new Angelina Jolie-starring vehicle “Those Who Wish Me Dead.” Described as a neo-western, the film sees Jolie as a survival expert who takes it upon herself to protect a teenage murder witness from two assassins in the Montana wilderness and a dangerous forest fire.
The trailer hints at Jolie’s character being a former fire fighter and a bit of an adrenaline junkie whose actions cost the lives of her fellow companions. As a result, she is left broken and guilt-ridden. However, she has a chance to redeem herself when she crosses paths with the aforementioned teenage witness, whom she must protect against the likes of two dangerous assassins. This is right in Jolie’s wheelhouse as we’ve seen her be both a motherly character and a kick-ass warrior in the past. And at times, she was both at once.
It’s actually refreshing to see Jolie in something gritty like “Those Who Wish Me Dead.” After spending some time in the voice booth for the “Kung Fu Panda” film franchise and, more recently, “The One and Only Ivan,” and some blockbuster tentpoles like the two “Maleficent” films, a neo-western is definitely a nice change of pace.
And director Taylor Sheridan is no stranger to the neo-western genre. Having directed films like “Sicario” and “Hell or High Water,” as well as co-created the “Yellowstone” TV series, Sheridan brings that dark grittiness and brutality to a modernized-take on a classic genre.
Here’s the official plot synopsis for “Those Who Wish Me Dead:”
Oscar winner Jolie (“Girl, Interrupted,” the “Maleficent” films) stars as Hannah, a smoke jumper still reeling from the loss of three lives she failed to save from a fire when she comes across a traumatized 12-year-old boy with nowhere else to turn.
Directed by Taylor Sheridan, based on a book of the same name by Michael Koryta, who also co-wrote the script with Sheridan, the film also stars Nicholas Hoult, Aidan Gillen, Jon Bernthal, Tory Kittles, Jake Weber and Tyler Perry.
The director’s behind-the-scenes creative team included his “Wind River” director of photography Ben Richardson, production designer Neil Spisak and costume designer Kari Perkins, and his “Yellowstone” editor Chad Galster and composer Brian Tyler.
“Those Who Wish Me Dead” opens in theaters and on HBOMax on May 14, 2021.
