Edward Berger has offered a concise but revealing update on the Brad Pitt ‘The Riders’ film, the A24 project he directed. Speaking at the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival, where he received this year’s Evolution Vision Award, the Swiss-Austrian filmmaker confirmed that shooting is complete.
Berger described the movie as a story told from a singular viewpoint, filtered entirely through Pitt’s character. The narrative, he explained, centers on a man in 1980s Ireland who is restoring a cottage while awaiting the arrival of his wife and daughter. Only the daughter appears, and the two then set off on what Berger termed a European odyssey in search of the missing wife.
The journey takes them to Greece, Brussels and Amsterdam, though Berger declined to disclose the outcome or whether the character ultimately finds her. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Tim Winton.
A European Journey at the Center
Berger’s brief comments at the Mallorca festival placed the film’s geographical sweep front and center. The route through Greece, Brussels and Amsterdam forms the backbone of the story, which he framed as a quest narrative seen through Pitt’s eyes. The director did not elaborate on additional locations, cast members or a release timeline.
The confirmation that filming has already taken place marks a significant step for the A24 production, which pairs Berger with one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors. Berger, known for directing All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave, was honored at the festival with the Evolution Vision Award, an accolade that preceded his remarks about the project.
Berger's Festival Appearance and Award
The Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival hosted Berger as this year’s recipient of the Evolution Vision Award. His appearance at the event provided the occasion for the update on The Riders, though he kept details deliberately limited. The festival setting placed the director among peers and industry attendees, but his comments focused narrowly on the film’s premise rather than its production schedule or distribution plans.
Berger’s description of the project as a singular perspective story suggests a tightly focused narrative that remains anchored to Pitt’s character throughout. The 1980s Irish setting and the subsequent European travels give the film a distinct period and geographic identity, though Berger offered no further specifics about the adaptation’s fidelity to Winton’s novel.
What Remains Unclear
While the director confirmed that The Riders has been shot, he did not address when audiences might see it, how closely the screenplay follows the source material, or which additional actors appear in the film. His remarks were confined to the central premise and the journey that drives the plot.
The project adds to Berger’s growing slate following the success of All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave. For Pitt, the film represents another collaboration with a major studio in A24, though the director’s comments at Mallorca did not touch on the actor’s role beyond the character’s perspective.
Berger’s decision to withhold the story’s resolution leaves the film’s emotional arc and final destination under wraps. What is clear is that The Riders has moved past production and into the next phase, with its director offering a measured glimpse of a story built around one man’s search across Europe.
