Maddox Jolie-Pitt, 24, the son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has officially removed his father’s last name from his new film credits. This change appears in the production details of “Couture,” where Maddox worked as an assistant director, signaling a significant personal rebranding.
The film, which premiered in French theaters on February 18, 2026, features Angelina Jolie in the role of an American director diagnosed with breast cancer before traveling to Paris. Maddox’s name is no longer listed as Jolie-Pitt but simply as Maddox Jolie, according to production notes revealed at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025. Attempts to get a comment from Brad Pitt’s representatives have gone unanswered.
The Changing Names Within the Jolie-Pitt Family
Maddox is not the only child to have dropped Pitt from their name. Zahara removed the surname during her introduction at her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, at Spelman College in 2023. Vivienne appeared as Vivienne Jolie in the cast list for the Broadway musical “The Outsiders” alongside Angelina. Shiloh followed suit by legally changing her name to Shiloh Jolie shortly after turning 18 in May 2024, with the court formalizing the change in August that year.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie themselves have altered their names in the past. Angelina originally carried the name Angelina Jolie Voight but discarded her father Jon Voight’s surname, opting to use her middle name as her last name. Brad Pitt, legally William Bradley Pitt, similarly adopted his middle name for his acting career.
Angelina Jolie on Her Children’s Attitudes Toward Fame
Despite several of their children working in entertainment, Angelina has emphasized that her kids are not eager to embrace celebrity life or pursue acting professionally. At the 2025 Santa Barbara Film Festival, she remarked,
“None of them are dying to be on screen,” Angelina said of her kids during the 2025 Santa Barbara Film Festival, per People. “They’re not interested. They really don’t like any of the celebrity part of it.”
Other Celebrities Who Have Dropped Their Family Names
The trend of changing or dropping last names extends beyond the Jolie-Pitt family. Several notable celebrities and their children have taken similar steps to rebrand or distance themselves from their given surnames.
Chelsea O’Donnell filed to change her last name to her birth mother’s maiden name, Micoley, in January 2025. She is the adopted daughter of Rosie O’Donnell and Kelli Carpenter.
Suri Cruise, daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, was credited at her high school graduation in June 2024 as Suri Noelle, using her first name and her mother’s middle name instead of the Cruise surname.
Malia Obama, daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama, omitted her last name when credited as Malia Ann for her 2023 film project “The Heart.”
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt took legal steps to drop “Pitt” and use only Jolie in 2024 after her 18th birthday.
Olivia Jade, influencer and daughter of Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, opts to use just her first and middle names professionally, leaving out Giannulli.
Elle King was born Tanner Elle Schneider but combined her middle name with her mother London King’s surname for her performing career.
Samia Najimy Finnerty, daughter of Kathy Najimy and Dan Finnerty, chose to go by Samia alone as a stage name.
Nicolas Cage, born Nicolas Kim Coppola, changed his professional name inspired by the Marvel character Luke Cage, distancing himself from the Coppola legacy.
Willow Smith, daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, now performs under the mononym WILLOW, omitting her family name completely.
Implications of These Name Changes in Hollywood Families
The decision by Maddox and his siblings to shed their paternal surname reflects broader tensions around identity, privacy, and the weight of public scrutiny in families born into fame. By dropping “Pitt,” Maddox appears to be making a personal declaration of independence amid a complex family history largely publicized since the couple’s split in 2016.
For the children of high-profile parents, this move may offer a sense of control over their own narratives, allowing them to define their careers on their own terms without being overshadowed by their parents’ celebrity status. Given Angelina Jolie’s comments about her children’s disinterest in fame, it remains to be seen whether Maddox’s new credit will signal a longer-term shift toward working behind the scenes rather than in the spotlight.
As this trend spreads among celebrity families, it highlights evolving approaches to legacy, identity, and privacy within Hollywood’s next generation.
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