Brad Pitt is set to star in The Riders, directed by Edward Berger, with A24 handling financing and worldwide theatrical distribution. The project, adapted from Tim Winton’s novel by screenwriter David Kajganich, brings together multiple Academy Award-winning talent.
The story follows Fred Scully (Pitt), who, after two years of traveling through Europe, settles with his wife and daughter in Ireland. Acting on an impulse from his wife Jennifer, they purchase a farmhouse situated beneath a nearby castle. While Scully focuses on renovating the property, Jennifer returns to Australia to address financial matters. When Scully meets the arriving plane at Shannon Airport, only his seven-year-old daughter, Billie, steps off—alone and silent. Jennifer has left no explanation.
Ridley Scott and Michael Pruss will produce for Scott Free, alongside Kajganich and Berger for Nine Hours. Pitt, Jeremy Kleiner, and Dede Gardner are producing for Plan B Entertainment. The project drew significant attention in the marketplace once Pitt joined, and A24 emerged from a competitive field to support the production.
Filming is scheduled to begin in early 2026 across multiple European locations.
Pitt is currently preparing to shoot The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth for Netflix, directed by David Fincher from a script by Quentin Tarantino. He also appears in F1, directed by Joseph Kosinski, set for release this summer, and is working on Heart of the Beast, directed by David Ayer.
Berger, whose film All Quiet on the Western Front received four Academy Awards, recently completed Conclave, which earned eight nominations including Best Picture. He will present his next project, The Ballad of a Small Player, starring Colin Farrell, later this year on Netflix.