James Gray's long-awaited space drama is finally entering the cosmos, as the first trailer for Ad Astra has hit the net.
Roy McBride, played by Brad Pitt, is an astronaut who embarks on a journey in search of his missing father (Tommy Lee Jones). Along the way, he learns about the mysterious research his dad was doing, as well as a biological threat that could possibly wipe out all existence on Earth. Liv Tyler, Ruth Negga, and Donald Sutherland are also among the cast.
In a 2017 interview with Collider, Gray spoke on the task of creating an authentic space experience for the silver screen. "I’m terrified by it. The science-fiction genre is so tricky because there are elements of fantasy usually involved, and there are also fantastical elements," he said. "What I’m trying to do is the most realistic depiction of space travel that’s been put in a movie and to basically say, 'Space is awfully hostile to us.' It’s kind of a Heart of Darkness story about traveling to the outer edge of our solar system. I have a lot of hopes for it but it is certainly ambitious."
IndieWirewrites the sci-fi flick was originally set to hit theaters back in January, but was pushed to May, and then delayed even further. Gray attributed the postponement to production issues. "You know usually when you see a science-fiction movie there are a number of shots that don’t look very good? I do not want to be up against a release date and have stuff looking really bad," he said during a masterclass.
In addition to this space epic, Pitt will be featured alongside an ensemble cast in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The film, which makes its theatrical debut on July 26, has been met with high praise after its Cannes premiere. It' officially Pitt SZN.
Ad Astra hits theaters Sept 20.
