By Josh Tarpley
After gaining notoriety with 2013’s “The Immigrant” and 2016’s “The Lost City of Z,” director James Gray has his next original sci-fi project lined up and the cast is getting in place. The space adventure film, “Ad Astra” already had Brad Pitt in the headlining spot, and now Ruth Negga (“Loving”) will be joining the movie as well.
Click beyond the jump to read more about “Ad Astra.”
In addition to directing, Gray co-wrote the script with Ethan Gross (previous writing credits include short films and episodes of “Fringe”). As it goes with most original sci-fi projects, the plot is unknown at this point and they will play up the secrecy aspect right up to opening weekend. The current synopsis reads as this,
“An Army Corps engineer searches across the galaxy for his father, who disappeared on a mission to find alien life 20 years ago.”
Fresh off of her first Oscar nomination for “Loving,” Negga joins the film in a mystery role (surprise). This marks the second Negga-Pitt collaboration, as she also appeared in 2013’s “World War Z.” Though nothing is known about the part, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting she will be in a starring role second to Pitt. Tommy Lee Jones and John Finn have been announced as well.
In addition to starring, Brad Pitt will serve as a producer as well with his company Plan B overseeing production. Pitt and company are hoping for another successful outing for Plan B, as recent years have seen Oscar success such as “The Big Short” and “12 Years a Slave” (they also have Ryan Coogler’s next feature sealed as well).
What do you think? Are you interested in a sci-fi film starring Brad Pitt and Ruth Negga? Were you a fan of “The Lost City of Z?” Let us know in the comments below!
You can follow Josh and hear more of his thoughts on the Oscars and Film on Twitter at @JoshTarpley7
