Milla Jovovich Returns to the Big Screen with "Protector"

Action star Milla Jovovich is back — and this time, she came with a personal investment. Jovovich, best known for The Fifth Element and the Resident Evil franchise, stars in Protector alongside rising actress Isabel Myers, and says the project was more than just another role.

"This was the first time I actually was a full-blown producer on a project," Jovovich said. "For me, it really is my baby."

The film follows a mother grappling with a violent past she's desperately trying to leave behind — only to be pulled back in when her daughter's life is on the line. Jovovich says the emotional core of the film was just as demanding as its action sequences. "So much of this movie is based on guilt — guilt that a lot of mothers can relate to. Being absent and wanting to be a great parent, but at the same time wanting to retain some essence of who you are."

Myers, who plays her daughter, said filming alongside seasoned veterans like D.B. Sweeney and Matthew Modine came with its own lessons. "Mila always says, don't be afraid to look stupid," Myers shared. "You have to zone out, focus on yourself, and get in the moment."

Protector is out now in valley theaters.