Unbroken trailer: First look at Angelina Jolie's movie about Louis Zamperini

Jolie's second directional outing follows extraordinary life of Olympic runner

Angelina Jolie and Louis Zamperini in her new film 'Unbroken' (Universal/AP)

A preview trailer for Angelina Jolie’s new film Unbroken has been released.

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The film, which has been directed by Jolie with a screenplay from the Coen Brothers, tells the story of American Olympic runner Louis Zamperini, who was taken prisoner by Japanese forces during World War II.

Zamperini, who died last week, was a runner who competed in the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936 in front of Adolf Hitler, before signing up to serve as a soldier in World War II.

After his plane crashed into the ocean, he survived for over 40 days with little food or water but was later rescued by the enemy and taken prisoner by Japanese forces, where he was severely beaten and mistreated.

When he was later freed, Zamperini suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and became a born-again Christian. He later launched a second career as an inspirational speaker.

Jolie, who was neighbours with Zamperini in the Hollywood Hills, had become close friends with the Olympian over the development of the film.

Unbroken marks Jolie’s second directional outing, following 2011’s In the Land of Milk and Honey.

The film has already been tipped by some critics to win and Oscar, and is released in time for the awards season.

Unbroken will be released on 26 December in the UK.

Read more: Zamperini dies aged 97