Jolie to play widow in 'A Mighty Heart'

LOS ANGELES, July 13 (UPI) -- Angelina Jolie has signed to play the wife of Daniel Pearl, the reporter murdered in 2002 by Islamic extremists in Pakistan, in "A Mighty Heart."

The film is an adaptation of the book, "A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband Danny Pearl," by real-life widow Mariane Pearl, Daily Variety reported.

The film was being developed by Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston when they were a couple, and Aniston had been in line to play Mariane Pearl.

The author approved of casting Jolie,

"I am delighted that Angelina Jolie will be playing my role," said Mariane Pearl. "I deeply admire her work and what she is committed to."

The memoir will be directed by Michael Winterbottom, who directed "Welcome to Sarajevo," and will be produced by Pitt's company, Plan B.