Maddox Jolie, the 24-year-old son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has joined his siblings by choosing to drop his father’s last name from his professional work. This change became evident when Maddox was credited simply as Maddox Jolie in production notes for Angelina Jolie’s recent film, Couture, showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025.
Maddox is one of six children shared by the former celebrity couple, who made their relationship public in 2006 amid rumours surrounding Pitt’s alleged affair with Jolie while he was still married to Jennifer Aniston. Angelina Jolie denied those claims. The couple, often referred to in the media as “Brangelina,” married in 2014 after a two-year engagement but separated and filed for divorce in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences.
Family Background and Legal Name Changes
Angelina Jolie adopted Maddox in Cambodia in 2002 during her marriage to Billy Bob Thornton. Brad Pitt later adopted Maddox and Jolie’s adopted daughter Zahara in 2006, legally changing their surnames to Jolie-Pitt. Over the years, several of their children have gradually removed Pitt’s name from their public and professional identities, including daughters Zahara, Shiloh, and Vivienne. Maddox is the first of their three sons to publicly omit Pitt’s surname in credits.
This adjustment in online and film credits marks a notable shift in the family’s public narrative, seen again when Couture was released in cinemas across France, with Maddox credited solely as Maddox Jolie. Previously, Maddox appeared as Maddox Jolie-Pitt while working as a production assistant on Angelina Jolie’s 2024 movie Maria, a biopic on opera singer Maria Callas directed by Pablo Larraín and written by Steven Knight.
Allegations and Legal Disputes Impacting Family Relations
The family dynamics have been complicated by ongoing legal disputes between Jolie and Pitt. In 2022, Angelina Jolie accused Brad Pitt of abusive behavior during a lawsuit concerning their French winery. She claimed he physically assaulted her and their children, though the FBI investigated and declined to file charges. Pitt’s attorney Anne Kiley responded at the time, stating,
“Brad has owned everything he’s responsible for from day one – unlike the other side – but he’s not going to own anything he didn’t do. He has been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation. Thankfully, the various public authorities the other side has tried to use against him over the past six years have made their own independent decisions.”
Anne Kiley, Brad Pitt’s Lawyer
Maddox’s Role in Angelina Jolie’s Recent Projects
Maddox served as an assistant director on Couture, a film in which Angelina Jolie stars as Maxine Walker, a director battling breast cancer while preparing editorial work for a fictional Paris fashion show. This role marks an advancement from his previous behind-the-scenes involvement on Maria, supporting his budding career in the film industry away from his father’s shadow.
Upcoming Projects and Open Questions
Angelina Jolie is set to appear in the upcoming comedy Anxious People, featuring a notable cast including Aimee Lou Wood, Jason Segel, Carol Kane, Stephanie Allynne, Joanna Scanlan, Lennie James, and Jessica Gunning. The film is an adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s 2019 novel. Meanwhile, representatives for Brad Pitt have declined to comment on the name change, and no confirmation has been made regarding whether Maddox has legally altered his surname.
Significance of the Name Change in the Family’s Public Story
The decision by Maddox and his siblings to remove Pitt’s last name from their professional identities reflects ongoing tensions and evolving family dynamics following Jolie and Pitt’s high-profile separation. This change underscores a move toward establishing independent personal and professional identities amid a backdrop of legal struggles and public scrutiny. Observers may consider this a significant moment in how the children of this former Hollywood power couple navigate their own lives and careers separate from their parents’ legacies.
