Okay, hold up—Brad Pitt is teaming up with A24 and Conclave director Edward Berger for a new movie called The Riders, and I’m already counting down the days. The news dropped on April 28, 2025, and it’s got everyone freaking out. Pitt’s starring in this adaptation of Tim Winton’s 1994 novel, and with Berger behind the camera, A24’s indie magic, and heavyweights like Ridley Scott producing, this is shaping up to be something special. Let’s dive into why this casting is blowing up X and why I’m already obsessed.
Pitt as a Heartbroken Dad? Yes, Please
So, The Riders is based on this intense, Booker Prize-shortlisted book by Tim Winton. Pitt plays Fred Scully, an Aussie guy who’s been wandering Europe with his wife, Jennifer, and their seven-year-old daughter, Billie. It’s 1987, and they settle in Ireland, buying this rundown farmhouse near a castle because Jennifer gets some weird, almost magical gut feeling about it. Scully’s all in, fixing up the place, while Jennifer jets back to Australia to sell their stuff. But when he goes to pick her and Billie up at the airport, only Billie shows up. No Jennifer, no explanation, nothing. The story spirals into this haunting, emotional search as Scully’s life falls apart, with some mystical vibes thrown in.
Brad Pitt as a desperate, broken dad? I’m sold. The guy’s a chameleon—think his cocky stuntman in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (Oscar win!) or his quiet intensity in Moneyball.
Edward Berger’s on Fire
Edward Berger is the real deal right now. His All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) snagged four Oscars, and Conclave (2024) was a Best Picture nominee that made $116 million on a $20 million budget. The guy knows how to make intense, human stories pop, and The Riders—with its mix of family drama and weird, surreal undertones—feels like his sweet spot. Word is, Berger jumped on this project the second Pitt signed up, and A24 fought hard to lock it down over other studios.
Berger’s got other projects cooking, like a Netflix movie with Colin Farrell and one about journalist Evan Gershkovich, but The Riders is likely his next big swing, with filming set to kick off in early 2026 across Europe.
A24, Ridley Scott, and a Dream Team
A24’s behind this, which is basically a guarantee of something bold and artsy. The studio that gave us Moonlight and The Brutalist (three Oscars in 2024!) snagged worldwide theatrical rights for The Riders. The script’s by David Kajganich, who wrote Bones and All and The Terror, and it’s been in the works for years, originally brought to Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions. Kajganich, Berger, and Scott worked together on The Terror, so this feels like a reunion of creative heavyweights.
Ridley Scott’s producing, along with Scott Free’s Michael Pruss, Berger’s Nine Hours, and Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment (run by Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner). Plan B’s got bangers like 12 Years a Slave and The Big Short, so they don’t mess around. Pitt producing and starring shows how much he believes in this. “A24, Pitt, Berger, and Ridley Scott? This is the Avengers of indie films,” one X user joked.
Pitt’s Got a Full Plate
Pitt’s not chilling anytime soon. He just starred in Wolfs with George Clooney on Apple TV+, and he’s got F1, a racing flick with Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, speeding into theaters in June 2025. He’s also shooting The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth, a Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood spin-off for Netflix, directed by David Fincher from a Tarantino script. Oh, and he’s working on David Ayer’s Heart of the Beast through early summer. The Riders will likely follow Cliff Booth, with Pitt’s schedule lining up for that 2026 shoot.
Why I’m Pumped
This is huge for everyone involved. For Pitt, it’s a chance to dive into a meaty, emotional role for A24, maybe even chasing another Oscar. For Berger, it’s the perfect follow-up to Conclave, proving he’s one of the best directors out there. And for A24, it’s another gem in a 2025 lineup that includes The Smashing Machine with Dwayne Johnson and Materialists with Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal.
The story’s got everything—heart, mystery, and a touch of something otherworldly, all set in gorgeous European spots. With a theatrical release planned, this could be a big player in 2026’s awards season.
Get Ready for The Riders
Brad Pitt starring in The Riders is the kind of news that makes you wanna high-five your screen. Edward Berger’s directing, A24’s got the reins, and this Tim Winton adaptation sounds like it’s gonna break our hearts in the best way.
Filming starts in early 2026, so we’ve got some time, but I’m already stoked for casting updates and first looks. For now, Pitt’s got us hooked, and Berger’s cooking up something unforgettable. The Riders is about to take us on one hell of a ride.
Source: Deadline
