A24 and Edward Berger frame 'The Riders' as a high-art, singular perspective story adapted from Tim Winton’s novel, showcasing Pitt’s dramatic range in a complex father-daughter journey across Europe.
Insiders note the logistical nightmare of filming with a seven-year-old star, Coco Greenstone, with Berger admitting they often cut scenes at the literal last second to stay within legal shooting limits.
Filming is complete. Producers include Ridley Scott’s Scott Free and Brad Pitt’s Plan B. Plot involves renovating an Irish cottage in the 1980s and traveling to Greece, Brussels, and Amsterdam to find a missing wife.
Pitt is officially in his 'European Odyssey' era, and if Berger’s track record holds, this A24 thriller will be as stressful to make as it is gripping to watch.
The rumors were true, and the receipts are in the can. Edward Berger, the director behind the Oscar-winning 'Conclave' and 'All Quiet on the Western Front,' finally broke his silence on his next big swing: 'The Riders,' the A24-produced thriller starring Brad Pitt. Speaking at the Evolution Mallorca festival, where he received the Evolution Vision Award, Berger confirmed that production is fully wrapped.
He described the film as a "singular perspective story told through the eyes of Brad Pitt," adapting Tim Winton’s novel of the same name. For those keeping score, this marks a significant pivot for Pitt into the indie-darling studio’s portfolio, financed and distributed entirely by A24. So, what exactly is Pitt doing in this "European Odyssey"?
According to Berger, the narrative centers on a man renovating a cottage in Ireland during the 1980s. The inciting incident is a domestic disaster: he is waiting for his wife and daughter to join him, but only the daughter shows up. This triggers a frantic search across the continent, with the duo traveling to Greece, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
Berger kept the final act under lock and key, laughing when asked if Pitt’s character actually finds his missing wife. "I won’t tell you what happens," he teased, leaving the audience to wonder if this is a tragedy or a redemption arc. The production pedigree is as stacked as the plot is mysterious.
The screenplay was penned by David Kajganich, a frequent collaborator of Luca Guadagnino known for 'Bones and All' and 'Suspiria.' The producer list reads like a who’s who of Hollywood power brokers, including Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions, Berger’s own Nine Hours, and naturally, Brad Pitt’s Plan B. The supporting cast is equally impressive, featuring Julianne Nicholson, Danny Huston, Camille Cottin, Michael Smiley, and Lara Pulver. It’s a heavyweight ensemble for a film that Berger describes as having the intensity of a political conspiracy thriller.
Beyond the glamour, Berger offered a rare glimpse into the chaotic reality of shooting with child actors, a theme that connects 'The Riders' to his earlier work 'Jack.' He revealed that Pitt’s on-screen daughter is played by seven-year-old Coco Greenstone. Berger recalled the extreme stress of their previous shoot with a child star, Ivo Pietzcker, noting they had a strict six-hour daily shooting exemption from the city, compared to the usual five. "Every day I literally got the shot one minute before the six hours," Berger admitted, describing the process as "really stressful." He confirmed that 'The Riders' faced the same tightrope walk, with the crew often scrambling to capture the final takes before the child actor’s legal time on set expired.
