Sony hack: Jolie branded 'seriously out of her mind'

Actress Angelina Jolie. Photo / Getty Images

A further leaked email thread between Sony Pictures co-chairperson Amy Pascal and movie producer Scott Rudin reveals Rudin once again harshly criticising Angelina Jolie.

In the exchange, published by Gawker, Rudin describes the actress as "seriously out of her mind" as tension mounts over Jolie's planned film Cleopatra, for which Eric Roth produced a script.

Previously hacked emails have shown that Jolie apparently wanted David Flincher to direct the film, but at the time he was attached to the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic - the troubled movie originally intended for Sony Pictures but now moved to Universal Pictures.

As it became clear that Fincher would be unavailable, Rudin and Pascal began to suggest alternative directors to Jolie - with limited success. In one email Rudin expresses his exasperation at the sequence of events, writing: "Kill me please. Immediately."

The email thread also shows Rudin and Pascal attempting to convince Jolie to instead base the film on Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra, thereby making it a love story.

Having joined the exchange at this point, Jolie replies: "I think making it a love story could undermine the female leadership and epic that we have built [...]

"I think we need a good script editor to work with Eric. He's open or will do with me. He knows we need to make it shorter to not be as intimidating. And I think we continue to discuss with great directors."

After this Rudin sent a private email to Pascal stating; "She's seriously out of her mind." Pascal suggests the trio should meet in person but Rudin responds: "Nooooooo noooooo noooooo please! Not a meeting!"

It is another embarrassment for Sony Pictures in a cyber-attack that has had far more serious implications. US intelligence officials have reportedly concluded that North Korea is behind the leaks, which are believed to have been a response to the Hollywood studio's comedy film The Interview, which depicts the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

Sony has subsequently cancelled the Christmas Day release of The Interview, in a move described by actor Rob Lowe as like giving in to Hitler.

He tweeted: "Saw Seth Rogen at JFK. Both of us have never seen or heard of anything like this. Hollywood has done Neville Chamberlain proud today."

He is just one among a number of stars who have reacted furiously to the decision to pull the film.

- Independent