Aimee Lou Wood joins Angelina Jolie in film adaptation of Fredrik Backman's novel 'Anxious People'

Aimee Lou Wood has joined the cast of Anxious People, a new feature directed by Marc Forster, where she will star opposite Angelina Jolie.

The film, adapted from the novel by Fredrik Backman, is currently being presented to buyers at the Cannes Market by Black Bear for international rights and WME Independent for domestic distribution.

Wood, known for her performances in Sex Education and The White Lotus season three, will play Grace, a would-be bank robber who inadvertently holds a group of strangers hostage during an open house the day before Christmas Eve.

Jolie stars as Zara, an investment banker reluctantly present at the scene. The plot unfolds through unexpected revelations and a blend of comedy and drama as the group confronts hidden truths.

The screenplay has been written by David Magee, whose credits include A Man Called Otto, Life of Pi, and Finding Neverland. The film reunites several creatives from A Man Called Otto, including producers Fredrik Wikström Nicastro and Renée Wolfe, who are working with Forster under their banner 2DUX2 alongside Hope Studios.

Black Bear’s broader lineup at Cannes includes Shutout from David O. Russell, starring Robert De Niro and Jenna Ortega.