Fresh off his Oscar-nominated work on “Conclave,” director Edward Berger appears to have found what is being dubbed as his “next film.”
According to Deadline’s sources, A24 will distribute “The Riders” following a competitive bidding war, which involved multiple studios. The project will star Brad Pitt in the lead role, with Berger attached as director. Screenwriter David Kajganich is set to adapt the story from Tim Winton’s acclaimed novel.
The narrative centers on Fred Scully (Pitt), who, after spending two years traveling across Europe, settles in Ireland with his wife and daughter. On a sudden, almost spiritual impulse from his wife Jennifer, the family purchases a weathered farmhouse beneath the looming presence of a nearby castle. While Scully devotes himself to restoring the home, Jennifer travels back to Australia to handle their financial matters. But when Scully arrives at the airport expecting to reunite with his wife and their seven-year-old daughter, only Billie steps off the plane—silent and alone. With no message or explanation from Jennifer, Scully's world unravels in an instant.
Pitt is supposed to shoot David Fincher’s “The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth” this summer, and ‘Riders’ will be his next project after that one. It should be mentioned that Berger will be doing the promotional rounds for “The Ballad of a Small Player” this fall, and if that film catches some awards season heat, then I would imagine ‘Riders’ will have to shoot sometime next year.
Pitt has Joseph Kosinski’s “F1” set for release this summer. He also recently started production on David Ayer’s “Heart of the Beast,” which should continue shooting until early summer. Pitt recently teamed with George Clooney on “Wolfs,” Apple TV+’s fixer action comedy directed by Jon Watts
Berger now has a handful of projects lined up. He recently signed on to direct a film about Evan Gershkovich— the first American journalist to be arrested in Russia since the Cold War. Amazon/MGM is supposed to back the film. However, that project has hit some speed bumps as Gershkovitz recently disavowed it, mentioning that it was being greenlit without his permission, and that he was working on a whole other film about his own life.
After his Netflix 2022 WWI epic “All Quiet on the Western Front,” which won four Oscars, the German-born Berger turned into one of the most sought-after directors in Hollywood. Who’d a thunk it. He’s coming off the acclaimed papal drama “Conclave,” which recently earned 8 Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture.