Actress and filmmaker Angelina Jolie will show off her directorial skills once again in the upcoming drama movie "Africa" as she was hired by the film's production company Skydance to direct it.

The film, which was written by "Forrest Gump" Oscar winner Eric Roth, is based on a true story about the struggle of conservationist and paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey with ivory poachers in Kenya that threatens the existence of the African elephant population in the late 80s.

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Cinematographer Roger Deakins, who has been nominated for 11 Oscars, will reteam with Jolie as her main cinematic collaborator.

Deakins also shot Jolie's upcoming "Unbroken," which is based on author Laura Hillenbrand's best-seller about Olympic runner turned war hero Louis Zamperini.

Universal Pictures will release the biopic, which was Jolie's third directorial project, in December.

Alongside Skydance's David Ellison and Dana Goldberg with Jon Peters, the actress will also serve as a producer on "Africa."

Skydance Productions is the company behind the upcoming "Terminator: Genisys" trilogy and "Mission: Impossible" series.

In a statement, Jolie said her deep connection to Africa and its culture made her to respond immediately "to Eric's beautiful script about a man drawn into a violent conflict that leads him to discover his profound sense of connection and responsibility to the world around him."

For his part, Ellison said Jolie is an incredibly talented filmmaker.

"'Africa' is a story that deserves to be told. It is very close to my heart, and I know that it will exceed my expectations in Angelina's hands," Ellison noted.

"She (Jolie) is sure to turn Eric Roth's impeccable script into the project that I've always wanted Skydance to be involved in," he added.

At present, Jolie is still wrapping up the romantic drama "By the Sea," which the actress is directing from her original script and in which she stars with husband Brad Pitt.

In July, Universal said it acquired worldwide rights to the film.

Jolie's first directorial debut was the Bosnian war romance "In The Land Of Blood And Honey" in 2011.