 Wanted is a 2008 American @-@ German action thriller film based on the comic book miniseries of the same name by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones . The film , written by Chris Morgan , Michael Brandt , and Derek Haas and directed by Timur Bekmambetov stars James McAvoy , Morgan Freeman , and Angelina Jolie . The storyline follows Wesley Gibson ( McAvoy ), a disaffected accountant who is drawn into a world of espionage and black ops after his estranged father ( Freeman ) is murdered. Wellesley is drawn into the world of espionage and black ops after his estranged father ( Freeman )