Edward Berger Sends Brad Pitt Across Europe in A24’s Next — A 25-Year Adaptation Journey Impossible to Ignore
An epic tale finally finds its star and director.
News that Edward Berger will team up with Brad Pitt for The Riders caught my attention. Digging a little deeper, I discovered this A24 film is not just another star vehicle but a long-delayed adaptation of Tim Winton’s novel — a project stuck in development for nearly 25 years.
Now, with Berger at the helm and Pitt confirmed to lead, it finally looks ready to move. That makes it more than just a casting headline, doesn’t it?
An Odyssey Across Europe
Adapted by David Kajganich, the story begins with a man building a home for his family before his wife suddenly disappears. What follows is a journey from Ireland to Greece, Brussels, Amsterdam and back again — a physical odyssey and an emotional unravelling.
Berger describes it as a true character piece, the kind of intimate role where Pitt will have to shed pure star power and fall apart on screen.
Timing and Momentum
Berger’s rise has been rapid since All Quiet on the Western Front won four Oscars, followed by acclaim for Conclave. Pitt, meanwhile, is finishing Fincher’s The Adventures of Cliff Booth and will start The Riders early next year. After decades of stalled attempts, timing finally seems right — for both star and story.
