Brad Pitt chose a low-key Tennessee premiere for his new film as he seeks distance from Hollywood and the continuing fallout from his divorce from Angelina Jolie, according to people close to the actor.
The 62-year-old star attended the opening of Heart of the Beast at FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin on Wednesday night, where free tickets were made available to local residents.
Set in a former quarry, the venue provided a striking contrast to the high-profile premieres traditionally associated with Pitt, whose recent films include F1 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Heart of the Beast follows a retired Army special forces soldier who is forced to survive in the Alaskan wilderness with his former service dog, Odin, after a plane crash. The film was greeted by cheers from an audience largely dressed in jeans and baseball caps.
A source close to Pitt said the event was intended to place him among “real people”, away from what they described as the “constant drama” surrounding his private life.
“Brad lost his way for a period in his life and he struggled but he did the work and came through,” the source said. “The divorce from Angelina was bad but the alienation from his children was the worst thing that ever happened to him. Now he’s gone from pain and hurt to acceptance.”
Pitt and Jolie’s marriage broke down in 2016 after the couple and their six children travelled by private jet from Paris. Jolie alleged that Pitt had verbally and physically abused her during the flight, including claims that he struck one of their children.
Pitt denied the allegations. The FBI investigated the incident, but no charges were filed.
The actor reportedly stopped drinking for seven years after the split and later acknowledged that he had begun drinking alcohol again in moderation. In an interview this summer, he said: “I can have a few but I can’t have a lot. I have to be professional about it.”
He added: “I got over-confident a couple times, went, yep, nope, not good for me. Not in big quantities.”
A source close to Pitt said: “Pitt never had a drink problem, he had an Angelina problem.” The claim was made by the source, rather than by Pitt himself, and Jolie has disputed Pitt’s account of the breakdown of their family.
Brad Pitt’s quiet life away from Hollywood
Pitt has increasingly surrounded himself with friends from the worlds of art and design, including sculptor Thomas Houseago and designer Neri Oxman. He has also been in a relationship with jewellery designer Ines de Ramon since late 2022.
De Ramon joined Pitt on the red carpet in Franklin, marking her first such appearance with him. The couple has also been seen together at the US Open, while people close to them say she prefers to remain out of the spotlight.
“He’s surrounded himself with good people – family, friends, a girlfriend who doesn’t crave attention in the way his ex did and a group of artists, artisans and others who share his interests but don’t want to be famous,” the source said.
Pitt was born in Oklahoma and raised in Missouri. A long-time associate said he remained “a midwestern boy at heart”, adding that his life had “spiralled down a rabbit hole” after his marriage to Jolie.
The actor and de Ramon are said to divide their time between homes in Los Angeles and Carmel, California, and the couple’s property in France. They have also been seen taking early morning walks near their Hollywood Hills home.
Friends say Pitt remains hopeful of repairing his relationship with his children, despite the estrangement. Jolie, however, has said their distance from their father is their own decision.
In a recent interview, Jolie said her approach to parenting was not to “get in their way”. She has also spoken of plans for a more nomadic lifestyle after putting her Los Angeles home up for sale.
Jolie and Pitt are both promoting new films this week. While Pitt held his premiere in Franklin, Jolie attended a New York screening of Without Blood, a war drama she wrote and directed.
Pitt’s spokesperson declined to comment. Representatives for Jolie were approached for comment.
Pitt’s next film, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, is due to open on November 25 and is expected to have a Hollywood premiere, reflecting its setting in the film industry’s home city.
