Brad Pitt has advice for young actors and talks about roles in sports-themed films

The Oscar winning actor speaks his mind in Kelce brothers’ podcast
"F1: The Movie" European Premiere -  Arrivals
"F1: The Movie" European Premiere - Arrivals | Samir Hussein/GettyImages

For decades now, Oscar-winner Brad Pitt has been one of the key male actors in Hollywood. His latest sports blockbuster, F1, is getting mixed reviews but is still captivating audiences around the world. Promoting the film, Pitt was a guest on the New Heights podcast, where he talked about the film itself, his roles in sports movies, but also had some personal advice for upcoming young actors.

Talking about the upcoming acting generation without mentioning any names in particular, Pitt said that he enjoys watching them make an impact on the silver screen. He did say that he was worried in a way about their path, giving some serious advice to them, particularly concerning joining film franchises or making superhero movies.

Speaking from personal experience, as he had a cameo role in 2018's Deadpool 2, as well as his notable roles in the Ocean's Eleven movies, Pitt had this advice for young actors: 

“I like watching what the new generation is coming in with. I like to see what they are up against and the way they negotiate and work their way through it. They enjoy it more. We were more uptight and it had to be about acting… like, you didn’t sell out, you didn’t sell out. But now it’s like, ‘We can be artists in many different arenas, so let’s do it and let’s enjoy it.’ But they also get caught up in you ‘have to have a franchise’ or ‘have to have a superhero.’ But I keep saying, ‘Don’t! Don’t! They’ll die.”

Responding to the Kelce brothers' remark that franchise films can make young actors exhausted, Pitt was in agreement, noting that this could be a killer. 

Talking about F1, as well as sports films in general, Pitt, who already had a notable role in baseball-themed Moneyball responded:

“I love a sports movie when they work … It’s the greatest. I look back at Gene Hackman and Hoosiers and [Robert] Redford and The Natural, there’s even something more. Sports for me, even one game is an entire lifetime.”

“When we get it right in these sports movies and I felt like we really got it right in Moneyball in a lovely, beautiful way to add to that lexicon,” he said. “I think this one does too on a really big level because the racing is probably the most visceral racing experience you’ll ever have. But like all great sports movies, when they’re great, there’s also a story there. You’re moved by it. And were funny as f**k. So, we got that to deliver it, but this kind of spiritual ending to it all, I’m really proud about.”

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