Brad Pitt's survival thriller 'Heart of the Beast' arrives on 25 September

Brad Pitt returns to cinemas on 25 September in Heart of the Beast, a Paramount Pictures survival thriller about a retired Special Forces officer and his combat dog. The date was set for theatrical release on 25 September 2026, according to reports at the time The Hollywood Reporter.

Pitt plays James Belmont. The film, directed by David Ayer, presents Belmont as a retired Special Forces officer living off the grid with Odin, a German Shepherd combat dog he has raised since puppyhood Variety.

Odin is not a background detail. He is depicted with titanium teeth and three legs, wearing a prosthetic leg. That physical detail shapes much of the action that follows.

The story turns on a plane crash. Belmont's small plane goes down, leaving man and dog stranded without the aircraft 58 miles from the nearest road. The plot is set in the aftermath of a crash in Alaska, though the production filmed in New Zealand.

Two other faces frame the journey. Anna Lambe, who joined Pitt in the cast last year, appears as a young woman in a pick-up truck in the opening scenes. J.K. Simmons appears later as a prospector-like stranger encountered in the wild.

Behind the camera, the credits are tight. Pitt and Ayer are both listed as producers, alongside Damien Chazelle, who boarded the project early. The film had been in development since 2017 before moving forward at Paramount The Hollywood Reporter.

What makes this stand out on the calendar is the build-up. Paramount revealed footage from the film at CinemaCon in April, followed by a trailer in June showing Pitt in the wilderness. The studio describes it as an intense adventure thriller exploring the bond between a man and his best friend Paramount Pictures.

The film then took a festival route. Heart of the Beast was added to the San Sebastián lineup to play out of competition, meaning a screening without competing for the main prizes, with Pitt and Ayer expected to attend Variety. A full review followed on 22 September.

For audiences, this means a simple set-up. One man. One dog. Miles of country between them and help.