By far, the most critically acclaimed work of director David Ayer’s career was following Fury, the 2014 tank thriller led by a game Brad Pitt, who also received praise for his performance as a battlefield leader. After far too long, in my opinion, the duo are reunited for Heart of the Beast, which is a very different kind of movie centered on surviving seemingly insurmountable odds.
In Heart of the Beast, Pitt stars as an ex-Navy SEAL who, along with his retired combat dog, attempts a return to civilization after a catastrophic plane crash in the dangerous Alaskan wilderness.
The script is by Cameron Alexander, and was on the Black List of best unproduced screenplays.
Joining Pitt in the cast are JK Simmons and Canadian Inuk actress Anna Lambe who will have a role in Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning.
“He’s a beast,” Ayer describes Pitt. “He was vulnerable and exposed himself in a way that I haven’t seen before. A constant theme from people who have seen the film is just how raw, believable, and profound his performance is.”
Here’s the official synopsis: After a harrowing plane crash, Special Forces officer James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and his combat dog, Odin, find themselves stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Together, they are forced into a brutal fight for survival against the elements. From acclaimed filmmaker David Ayer, Heart of the Beast is an intense adventure thriller that explores the unbreakable bond between a man and his best friend as they face their greatest battle yet.
Paramount Pictures will release Heart of the Beast in theaters on September 25th.
