‘Heart of the Beast’ Pits Brad Pitt Against the Elements

Heart of the Beast sees Brad Pitt stranded in the Alaskan wilderness alongside a loyal combat dog in a new survival thriller from director David Ayer, with Paramount Pictures releasing the film in cinemas on 25 September.

The newly released trailer introduces Pitt as James Belmont, a Special Forces officer whose life is upended after a plane crash leaves him isolated deep in remote territory. Accompanied by Odin, his military service dog, Belmont faces a desperate struggle against the elements as he attempts to find a way back to civilisation.

The film marks the first collaboration between Pitt and Ayer since Fury, the 2014 Second World War drama that earned praise for its portrayal of life inside a Sherman tank during the final months of the conflict. More than a decade later, the pair reunite for a very different kind of survival story, one centred on a man and his dog confronting the challenges of an unforgiving landscape.

Joining Pitt are Oscar winner J.K. Simmons and True Detective: Night Country star Anna Lambe. Pitt also serves as a producer through his Plan B Entertainment banner alongside Olivia Hamilton, Marty Bowen and Ayer.

Written by Cameron Alexander, Heart of the Beast has been a long-gestating project. The screenplay first attracted industry attention after appearing on the Black List, the annual survey of Hollywood’s most admired unproduced scripts. Ayer boarded the film in 2024, with Paramount Pictures producing and distributing alongside partners including Wild Chickens Productions, Temple Hill and Kino World.

The story follows Belmont and Odin after their aircraft goes down in the wilderness, forcing them to rely on one another in order to survive. While the film’s premise is rooted in physical endurance, it also places a long-standing partnership forged through military service at its centre.

Production took place in New Zealand, whose rugged landscapes doubled for Alaska’s remote terrain. The project was first showcased to exhibitors during CinemaCon earlier this year, where Paramount screened footage from the film as part of its upcoming theatrical slate.

Heart of the Beast opens in cinemas on 25 September 2026. The trailer and poster are available now.

Heart of the Beast trailer