Brad Pitt Confirms Angelina Jolie Addition to Pearl Project  7/14/06

Brad Pitt has confirmed girlfriend Angelina Jolie will play Mariane Pearl, the widow of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, in a movie being made by his production company.

The film will be adapted from Pearl's memoir, A Mighty Heart, which chronicles her experience after her husband was kidnapped and murdered by Islamic extremists in Pakistan in 2002.

According to Pitt, "The film will focus on the deep collaboration between people around the world in search of Daniel in 2002.

"We hope the film can increase understanding between people of all faiths and portray the story and the people involved as honestly as possible without anger or judgment."

Pearl, a French journalist, was pregnant when her husband was kidnapped and gave birth to their son Adam in May of that year (02).

She has expressed her support for the project: "I am delighted that Angelina Jolie will be playing my role in the adaptation of the book. I deeply admire her work and what she is committed to."

The film will begin shooting this autumn (06) and will be Jolie's first dramatic role since giving birth to her daughter with Pitt, Shiloh Nouvel.