Brad Pitt on survival, stardom and a German Shepherd named Uber

Brad Pitt has said that his new survival thriller "Heart of the Beast" demanded far more of him physically than he had anticipated when he first read the script.

Speaking at a screening and fireside conversation in Beaver Creek, Colorado, alongside director David Ayer, Pitt recalled being drawn to the project by its setting. "I grew up in the Ozarks, I'm quite happy outside, I'm quite happy in the wilderness," he said. "So I said, well, if this thing can move me like that, I have to do it. But I didn't consider all the physical demands up to that point it was going take. I had completely ignored it."

In the film, Pitt plays James Belmont, a former Army Special Forces officer stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with his retired combat dog, Odin, after a plane crash. Much of the story rests on the bond between the two characters, which meant Pitt's on-screen partner was a German Shepherd named Uber.

Uber was located in New Zealand by animal coordinator Andrew Simpson, who scouted the country from north to south. Ayer described the discovery as "really a miracle," noting that the dog had previously worked in search and rescue, with experience aboard helicopters and in demanding physical environments alongside emergency responders. Uber had retired before joining the production.

According to Ayer, Simpson broke the film's tasks into small pieces that the dog could be trained to perform, after which Pitt worked directly with Uber and formed a close attachment. "I think a lot of their performance is the connection Brad was able to establish with the dog," Ayer said.

Pitt said winning the dog over was his first priority. "First of all, I've got to make sure that the dog likes me, you know? Like, that's not a given," he said, adding that the first three weeks were largely spent simply being around Uber before any choreography for the film's set pieces was attempted.

Keeping the animal focused during takes brought its own difficulties. Pitt described Uber as "beautiful and magnificent" but noted that the outdoor locations offered plenty of distractions. His solution was to keep boiled chicken in his pocket, feeding the dog mid-scene before returning to the emotional register of the take.

Pitt also praised Ayer's insistence on authenticity, saying the director ensured the production had access to top-level expertise in military, survival and canine training.

The film also stars J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe. Ayer previously directed Pitt in the 2014 war drama "Fury."