Maddox Jolie, son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has chosen to drop his father’s surname in the credits for his work on the recent film Couture. At 24 years old, Maddox was credited simply as ‘Maddox Jolie’ while serving as an assistant director on the project, a decision that aligns with the choices of some of his siblings.
About the Film Couture and Maddox’s Role
Couture, starring Angelina Jolie herself, is a drama centered on an American director who, upon arriving in France to shoot a video for Paris Fashion Week, faces a breast cancer diagnosis. Angelina, 50, who took on the lead role, has a personal connection to the story, having undergone a double mastectomy in 2013 because of a high cancer risk linked to a BRCA1 gene mutation.
The film is written and directed by Alice Winocour, known for her work on Disorder and Proxima. It also features performances from Louis Garrell, Ella Rumpf, and Garance Marillier. Maddox’s involvement as assistant director marks a continuation of his growing career behind the camera.
Family History and Emotional Roots Behind Couture
Angelina Jolie’s family history with cancer runs deep, as she lost her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, to cancer in 2007 at age 56. Additionally, her grandmother and aunt succumbed to the disease, intensifying the film’s personal resonance for Jolie. Couture was released in France on February 18, with multiple sources confirming Maddox’s credit as Maddox Jolie in the final presentation and earlier production notes from its Toronto Film Festival debut in September 2025.
Name Changes Among Jolie-Pitt Children Reflect Family Dynamics
Maddox’s recent credit contrasts with his earlier work on the 2024 film Maria, which starred Angelina as the iconic opera singer Maria Callas and was directed by Pablo Larraín. In that project, Maddox and his younger brother Pax, 22, were credited as Jolie-Pitt, reflecting their previous use of the combined surname. Both contributed as set production assistants on Maria.
The shift to the Jolie surname has been seen with other members of the family as well. Vivienne, one of the twins born to Angelina and Brad, was credited as ‘Vivienne Jolie’ in the Playbill program for the Broadway production The Outsiders in May 2024. Meanwhile, Zahara, 21, joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Spelman College in November 2023 under the name Zahara Markey Jolie. She introduced herself using this name during a video from the sorority’s luncheon event, which Angelina attended.
Shiloh, 19, took an even more definitive step by legally changing her surname to Jolie on her 18th birthday. This deliberate distancing from the Pitt surname has reportedly caused tension with Brad Pitt himself.
Brad Pitt’s Reaction to the Name Changes
A source told People that Brad was “aware and upset” about Shiloh dropping his surname.
“He’s aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name. He’s never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter,”
the source explained.
“The reminders that he’s lost his children, is of course not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them. It’s very sad,”
they added. These comments highlight Brad Pitt’s conflicted feelings surrounding the decisions made by his children in managing their identities.
Background of the Jolie-Pitt Family and Name Usage Trends
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the celebrity couple who married in 2014 and separated in 2016, share six children together, including Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. The children’s decisions to selectively use Jolie, Jolie-Pitt, or Jolie-Pitt variations seem to reflect evolving family ties and personal choices as they enter adulthood.
Shiloh was originally named Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt at birth in 2006, not long after her parents began dating. Her name change was legally granted in August 2024 after filing intent earlier that year. That same year, at the launch of Isabel Marant’s capsule collection with Net-A-Porter, Shiloh appeared under the nickname ‘Shi Joli’ per press materials, indicating further steps away from the Pitt surname.
Current Status and Family Privacy
Brad Pitt’s feelings about the name changes contrast with Angelina Jolie’s more personal and artistic projects that often incorporate her family’s experiences, such as Couture. Reporters and journalists have sought comments from representatives of both Angelina and Brad, but no official statements have been released to date.
The evolving surname usage among the Jolie-Pitt siblings continues to attract public interest, particularly as they forge their own paths in entertainment and personal identities. Maddox’s choice to drop the Pitt name in a professional capacity may signal a growing assertion of independence.
Ongoing Narratives Around the Jolie-Pitt Family
As the children of one of Hollywood’s most famous former couples navigate adulthood, their personal decisions resonate deeply with fans and media alike. The tensions and emotions highlighted by sources demonstrate how family dynamics remain complex and sensitive, especially under public scrutiny.
With younger siblings also engaging in creative work alongside their mother or stepping into new roles, the Jolie-Pitt family story is continually unfolding, reminding observers of the challenges faced behind the scenes of fame.
