Angelina Jolie teams with Halle Berry for a high-stakes new thriller. Cast, director, studio deal, and what signals to watch next without the spoilers.
Angelina Jolie is stepping back into adrenaline territory with a new global spy thriller titled “Maude v Maude”, headlining alongside Halle Berry. The package landed at Warner Bros after a fierce multi-studio chase in April 2023, widely reported by Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, and paired the two Oscar winners for the first time under director Roseanne Liang.
The premise promises a face-off energy that trades quickly labeled “Bond vs Bourne”, a shorthand that tells audiences to expect sharp hand-to-hand action, fast turns, and an international chase. The film is designed as a character duel as much as a spectacle, with Jolie and Berry both attached as stars and producers, a detail that suggests creative sway over the tone and set pieces from the outset.
“Maude v Maude” : cast, director, studio deal, and what is confirmed
Two leads. One director with a taste for propulsive genre. “Maude v Maude” brings Angelina Jolie together with Halle Berry under filmmaker Roseanne Liang, whose feature “Shadow in the Cloud” mixed claustrophobic tension and practical stunt work. Warner Bros secured the project in April 2023 after what trades described as a bidding war, a sign of strong market confidence for a dual-hero spy vehicle.
At announcement, the film’s logline was kept tight to protect reveals. What did emerge was the tone and scale: a contemporary espionage matchup anchored by two established action presences. Jolie’s involvement follows recent on-screen runs in “Those Who Wish Me Dead” and “Eternals”, while Berry extends a streak shaped by “John Wick: Chapter 3” and “Bruised”. The pairing alone created instant heat with global distributors.
The project’s path was straightforward: package assembled, studio placement achieved, then the move into active development across 2023. As of now, Warner Bros has not publicly set a theatrical date. Expect the calendar conversation to come into focus once the first official footage arrives through studio channels.
Why fans care : Angelina Jolie’s thriller track record in numbers
Angelina Jolie has a history of making action thrillers travel worldwide. “Mr. et Mrs. Smith” earned more than 480 million dollars globally according to Box Office Mojo, turning a domestic hit into a true export. “Wanted” cleared 340 million dollars worldwide, driven by high-concept momentum and repeat viewing. “Salt” crossed the 290 million dollar line and has been cited in studio circles as a case study for star-driven spy stories.
The awards resume matters for audience trust too. Jolie received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2000 for “Girl, Interrupted” and has multiple Golden Globes, combining prestige credibility with franchise-ready physical roles. That dual reputation creates a safety net for new material that needs a grounded lead and a sales hook.
Halle Berry brings complementary proof points. “John Wick: Chapter 3” pushed the series past 320 million dollars worldwide in 2019, with Berry’s dog-assisted combat sequence becoming a standout. When two bankable action performers share top billing and producer credits, the market usually reads it as a signal: expect star-forward set pieces, not just ensemble coverage.
Release watch : production signals, first look timing, and what to expect next
The question that keeps popping up : when will audiences see the first trailer. Studios typically time a teaser to either a major convention showcase or a big-tent release on their slate. With “Maude v Maude” under Warner Bros, the path often runs through official social channels followed by a theatrical placement on a high-traffic weekend. No date has been announced publicly yet.
Development milestones so far are clear and on the record: package announcement in April 2023, studio set, creative team in place. The next concrete marker is a materials drop: a still, a motion poster, or a teaser clip. Those tend to precede a release window reveal by weeks, not months, once marketing locks its beats.
There is also the genre expectation to balance. A modern spy thriler needs crisp geography, practical stunt texture, and a character rivalry the audience can track from the first exchange. That is where Roseanne Liang’s genre instincts meet Jolie and Berry’s action timing. The combination suggests a shoot that favors tactile choreography and clean coverage over digital noise, the kind of choices that help trailers pop and word of mouth travel.