'Don’t! They’ll Die': Brad Pitt’s No-Franchise Rule — And Why It’s Easier Said Than Done Today
Turns out, capes are harder to dodge these days.
Brad Pitt has a bit of advice for the next generation of actors — and it’s as passionate as it is pointed. Speaking on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, Pitt reflected on what young stars face in today’s Hollywood. While he admires their creative freedom and spirit, he worries that many are getting swept up in a new kind of pressure: the need to land a franchise, or suit up for a superhero role. His advice? "Don’t! Don’t! They’ll die."
It’s dramatic, yes — but not without reason. Pitt sees the modern industry as a double-edged sword. While it’s more open to experimentation than when he was starting out, the lure of billion-dollar blockbusters is hard to resist. "We were more uptight… like, you didn’t sell out," he said. "Now it’s like, 'We can be artists in many different arenas.'" But with great IP comes great burnout, especially for actors still building their identities.
The conversation echoes similar advice from Pitt’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, who once warned Timothée Chalamet to steer clear of capes and franchises. Chalamet listened — mostly. He’s stayed away from superheroes so far, though he admitted in an interview that The Dark Knight was what first made him want to act. "If the script was great, if the director was great," he said, "I’d have to consider it."
Ironically, Pitt himself may be circling a franchise after all. His racing drama F1 has just delivered Apple’s biggest opening weekend to date, and talks of a sequel are already surfacing. He's also reportedly reprising his Rick Dalton role for a Netflix sequel directed by David Fincher. So yes, the advice is sound. But as any young actor — or even Pitt himself — might tell you: walking away from a cape is harder than it looks.
