Edward Berger Wraps Filming on Pitt's 'The Riders'

Edward Berger, the director behind "All Quiet on the Western Front," has announced that principal photography has wrapped on his new A24 film, "The Riders," starring Brad Pitt. Berger described the project as a "singular perspective story told through the eyes of Brad Pitt," adapting Tim Winton's novel. The narrative centers on a man renovating a cottage in 1980s Ireland, whose wife disappears, leading him and his daughter on a journey across Europe.

The film, which was financed and will be distributed by A24, features a screenplay by David Kajganich and is produced by Plan B and Scott Free, among others. The cast includes Julianne Nicholson, Danny Huston, and Coco Greenstone as Pitt's daughter. Berger also reflected on the challenges of working with child actors, drawing parallels between Greenstone in "The Riders" and Ivo Pietzcker in his earlier film "Jack," noting the tight schedules and need for tutors.

Berger discussed his acclaimed work, including the four-time Oscar-winning "All Quiet on the Western Front," a project he initially hesitated to take on due to his desire to direct an English-language film. He felt the war drama's themes of rising nationalism and questioning international institutions were timely. Following "All Quiet," Berger found the intense subject matter "traumatic" and sought a more ordered project like "Conclave," which was inspired by 1970s political thrillers.