Edward Berger, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Conclave,” and the visually striking gambling pic “Ballad of a Small Player,” isn’t taking a rest as he gears up for his next feature effort, “The Riders.”
The film’s lead Brad Pitt (“F1: The Movie”) is getting some company on the call-sheet as Deadline has mentioned that Emmy-nominee Julianne Nicholson (“Paradise,” “Boardwalk Empire”) and newcomer Coco Greenstone (“Windcatcher”) have joined the family drama hailing from A24 and Scott Free that will focus on a father repairing a farmhouse in Ireland for his family, as their young daughter arrives from Australia without her and devastates Pitt’s character.
READ MORE: 16 Films To See In January: ’28 Years Later 2,’ ‘The RIP,’ ‘Send Help’ & More
“The Riders” is an adaptation of the Tim Winton novel that has a script penned by David Kajganich, a screenwriter who has previously worked on Luca Guadagnino films “Bones & All” and his remake of Dario Argento‘s iconic “Suspiria.”
A synopsis provided for the gestating drama:
Fred Scully (Pitt), who, after traveling through Europe for two years, winds up in Ireland with his wife and daughter. And on a mystical whim of his wife, Jennifer, they buy an old farmhouse that stands in the shadow of a castle. While Scully spends weeks alone renovating the old house, Jennifer returns to Australia to liquidate their assets. When Scully arrives at Shannon Airport to pick up Jennifer and their 7-year-old daughter, Billie, it is Billie who emerges — alone. There is no note, no explanation, not so much as a word from Jennifer, and the shock has left Billie speechless. In that instant, Scully’s life falls to pieces.
A producing team includes Scott Free’s Ridley Scott and Michael Pruss alongside Kajganich and Berger’s Nine Hours, and Pitt, Jeremy Kleiner, and Dede Gardner for Plan B Entertainment.
If you haven’t been aware, Berger had been in the mix for the next “Bourne” adventure but it remains to be seen if he’ll ulimately get into the director’s chair. Cameras are said to begin rolling this month on “The Riders” with multiple locations across Europe, as A24 will finance and handle the worldwide theatrical release of the film (we’re still waiting on the studio to announce a release date, but sometime in 2027 is a good bet to make).
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc


