Five years. That's how long I chased this one. A script by Cameron Alexander that I fell in love with the moment I read it — a film that had passed through a lot of hands over the years, none of which quite knew what they were holding or how to treat it. I did. So I kept knocking, and I waited, until it was finally mine to look after.
I grew up around German Shepherds. My mum breeds and trains them, and I've always believed they're the best breed going — full stop. I wanted to make the definitive German Shepherd film, and in Cameron's pages, I saw it.
We redeveloped it together and brought on Andrew Simpson, the best dog trainer in the business — if you've seen the Malinois in John Wick, you've seen his work. Then I handed it to two dear friends, Damien Chazelle and Olivia Hamilton, who saw exactly what I saw: a gritty survival thriller made for the big screen. They took it to Paramount, who fell for it as hard as we had. Before I knew it, Brad Pitt had come aboard, with David Ayer directing — an absolute maestro — and we were shooting in New Zealand.
Here's the part that still gets me. Back in the 90s at Pinewood, I was a runner making Brad his tea and coffee on Interview with the Vampire. To now be one of the producers on what may be one of his very best films… I don't have a word for it other than: pinch me.
HEART OF THE BEAST. In cinemas September 25th.
I am so proud of this one. It's everything I hoped it would be.
And look — everybody loves a dog. It's about the only thing the whole world agrees on. So let me put your mind at ease right now: the dog does not die. You're welcome. 🐾
It’s not who you live for… It’s who you’d die for. Watch Brad Pitt in the new trailer for David Ayer’s HEART OF THE BEAST - only in theatres September 25th.