Angelina Jolie is the primary entity for this article, supported by Entertainment topic context.
Related WII context: related keeper article. External authority context: industry context.
Maddox, the eldest child of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has removed Pitt from his surname in the credits of Jolie’s new movie, Couture. This change reflects a continued pattern among the siblings distancing themselves publicly from their father’s last name.
At 24 years old, Maddox is credited as Maddox Jolie in Couture, where he contributed behind the scenes on the production. The film, in which Angelina Jolie stars as an American director facing a breast cancer diagnosis while working in France, premiered in French cinemas on February 18, 2026. Materials related to the film’s production and on-screen credits showcase Maddox’s updated name.
Shift in Credits Signals Growing Role in Filmmaking
According to reports, Maddox’s name appears without Pitt in the credits of Couture, confirming a change also noted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025. Previously, Maddox had been credited as Maddox Jolie-Pitt when working as a production assistant on Jolie’s 2024 biographical drama, Maria.
For Couture, Maddox took on a more substantial role, serving as an assistant or third assistant director, suggesting his increasing involvement in the film projects led by his mother. Neither Angelina Jolie’s nor Brad Pitt’s representatives have publicly addressed the surname alteration or the family implications related to it.
Other Children Follow Similar Steps Away from Pitt Name
Maddox is not the first of Jolie and Pitt’s six children to omit Pitt from their public or professional names. Their daughter Shiloh legally removed the Pitt surname in 2024, now known as Shiloh Nouvel Jolie, as confirmed by court records.
Vivienne has also been credited as Vivienne Jolie in the Playbill of the Broadway musical The Outsiders, where she works as a producer’s assistant alongside Jolie, reportedly requesting to drop Pitt. Zahara appeared to eliminate the Pitt surname when she introduced herself as Zahara Marley Jolie at an Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority event at Spelman College in November 2023, according to E! News.
Background of Family Strain Revealed in Past Incidents
The surname omissions coincide with reports of longstanding tensions between Maddox and his father. The family’s troubled relationship reportedly dates back to an altercation on a private jet in September 2016, just days prior to Angelina Jolie filing for divorce.
Investigations were launched into the incident but were subsequently closed without charges. Despite that, press outlets have reported that Pitt and Maddox have had limited contact since then.
Details from court documents describe a volatile confrontation during the flight involving Pitt, Jolie, and their children. Jolie claimed Pitt was intoxicated, verbally aggressive, and physically rough towards her and some of the children. She described feeling like a “hostage” on the plane and stated the event was pivotal in her decision to end the marriage.
Further allegations include Pitt shaking Jolie, pushing her against a wall, and damaging the aircraft. A source close to Pitt denied intentional harm toward the children, stating that contact with Maddox was limited to a shoulder touch.
Ongoing Emotional Distance and Legal Battles
Maddox appears to have maintained emotional distance from Brad Pitt following the incident. Despite this, Pitt has pursued continued legal actions concerning custody arrangements and joint assets, according to Cosmopolitan.
Family Dynamics Still Unfolding Amid Public Attention
The removal of the Pitt surname by Maddox and other Jolie-Pitt children reflects deep family dynamics still playing out publicly. With Angelina Jolie continuing her film career and her children stepping into various roles alongside her, these decisions signal a lasting impact of past events on the family’s identity.
Future updates may shed more light on how these personal changes influence professional collaborations and the private lives of each family member involved.
“He is not the first of the former couple’s six children to stop using Pitt in public or professional settings.”
– Source
“Jolie told investigators that she felt like a hostage on the plane and claimed the confrontation… was a turning point that led her to end the marriage.”
– Source
“Subsequent reports have stated that Maddox has maintained emotional distance from his father since the incident.”
– Source