Brad Pitt Reunites with Director David Ayer for ‘Heart of the Beast’

The duo teams up again for an action-adventure set in the Alaskan wilderness.

Brad Pitt is set to star in and produce “Heart of the Beast,” an action-adventure film directed by David Ayer for Paramount Pictures. This project marks the first collaboration between Pitt and Ayer since their 2014 World War II drama, “Fury.”

Written by Cameron Alexander, who also serves as an executive producer, the story follows a former Army Special Forces soldier and his retired combat dog as they struggle for survival after a plane crash deep in Alaska’s unforgiving wilderness.

Damien Chazelle and Olivia Hamilton will produce under their Wild Chickens Productions banner, as part of their first-look deal with the studio. Ayer also produces under his Crave Films banner, along with Temple Hill Entertainment. Richard Raymond is co-producing.

For Pitt, “Heart of the Beast” follows his role in “F1,” an anticipated sports action film directed by Joseph Kosinski, set to release on June 27. He also teamed up with George Clooney in “Wolfs,” an Apple TV+ action comedy directed by Jon Watts, which he produced.

Beyond acting, Pitt has recently executive produced theatrical hits including “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and “Bob Marley: One Love,” as well as “Nickel Boys,” an Amazon adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which earned two Oscar nominations. He’s also an executive producer on Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17,” releasing on March 7, and the upcoming “Hedda,” directed by Nia DaCosta for Amazon MGM’s Orion.

This announcement comes on the heels of Paramount’s recent casting news for its YA fantasy adaptation “Children of Blood and Bone,” directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, featuring a star-studded ensemble including Thuso Mbedu, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Tosin Cole, Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.