Maddox Jolie, the eldest son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has shortened his professional name by dropping his father’s last name in the credits of his mother’s latest film. In the 2024 movie Couture, Maddox is credited as Maddox Jolie while serving as the third assistant director, marking a change from previous projects where he used the combined surname Jolie-Pitt.
Previously, Maddox appeared as Maddox Jolie-Pitt in the credits of Angelina Jolie’s 2024 film Maria, where he worked as a production assistant. Over the years, he has held various roles in both his parents’ projects, including executive producer on Jolie’s 2017 film First They Killed My Father and a trainee on the set of By the Sea, directed by his mother and featuring both actors.
Background on Maddox’s Film and Family Involvement
Maddox also had an uncredited cameo in Brad Pitt’s 2013 film World War Z as a child. His continued participation in the film industry alongside his mother highlights his growing career in filmmaking. Couture, directed by Alice Winocour and starring Angelina Jolie, centers on a filmmaker who confronts a breast cancer diagnosis during Paris Fashion Week. The cast also includes Louis Garrel, Anyier Anei, and Ella Rumpf.
As of now, representatives for Brad Pitt have declined to comment on Maddox’s name change, while Angelina Jolie’s team and the producers of Couture have not responded to requests for statements.
Other Jolie-Pitt Children Changing or Altering Last Names
Maddox is not the only member of the Jolie-Pitt family to modify their surname recently. His 19-year-old sister Shiloh legally removed “Pitt” from her name after turning eighteen in 2024. Shiloh’s attorney explained that she
made an independent and significant decision following painful events
regarding the name change.
In addition, the youngest daughter Vivienne, now 17, was credited as Vivienne Pitt in the Playbill for the Broadway musical The Outsiders, which she co-produced with their mother. Meanwhile, their 21-year-old half-sister Zahara Marley Jolie is no longer using Pitt, as seen in a 2023 video when she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at Spelman College, introducing herself without the Pitt surname.
Past and Present Legal Proceedings Between Jolie and Pitt
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s relationship began in 2005 on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. They married in 2014, then separated when Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, following allegations of abuse during a private flight. The FBI later closed an investigation without filing charges, and a child services inquiry did not find evidence of abuse.
Their divorce was finalized in late 2024 after years of legal proceedings. Jolie’s lawyer James Simon said at the time,
This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago,
adding,
Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.
Brad Pitt commented on the finalization in an interview with GQ, stating,
No, I don’t think it was that major of a thing,
and further,
Just something coming to fruition. Legally.
Implications of Name Changes and Family Dynamics
The choice by Maddox and his siblings to remove or alter the Pitt surname may reflect personal decisions influenced by past family events and public scrutiny. These changes are significant within the context of their family history and ongoing legal matters, signaling a possible desire for individual identity separate from their father’s legacy. Maddox’s decision to be credited solely under Jolie in a major film project underscores this shift.
As Maddox continues to grow his career in the film industry under the Jolie name, it remains to be seen how his relationship with both parents will evolve publicly and privately in the years ahead.
