Brad Pitt recently appeared on the “Original Heights” podcast, during his promotional tour for “F1.” In this engaging conversation, he expressed his admiration for the new wave of young talent emerging in Hollywood while also highlighting the challenges they face. Even though he refrained from naming specific actors, Pitt emphasized that these newcomers should resist industry pressures that were absent during his rise to fame—particularly the expectation to join a franchise or star in superhero films.
“I truly enjoy observing what this new generation brings to the table,” Pitt remarked. “It’s engaging to see how they navigate their careers and tackle obstacles. They seem to embrace it more freely than we did; we were often more rigid and focused solely on acting… It was about not selling out. Now, it feels like there’s an openness where artists can explore various avenues, which is fantastic. Though, they still get caught up in this idea of needing a franchise or a superhero role. I keep telling them,‘Don’t! Just don’t! It could be detrimental.’”
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The Kelce brothers pointed out that becoming overly involved in franchise films or comic book adaptations can lead to burnout for younger actors—a sentiment with which Pitt wholeheartedly agreed.
Pitt has made only a brief appearance in “Deadpool 2,” but he has largely steered clear of superhero movies and major Hollywood franchises outside of his work in the “Ocean’s” trilogy alongside George Clooney and Matt Damon. His perspective aligns closely with that of fellow actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who famously advised Timothée Chalamet against participating in superhero films as he was gaining popularity. Chalamet acknowledged DiCaprio’s advice but noted that ultimately it depends on the quality of the script.
“Leonardo told me, ‘No superhero movies and no hard drugs,’ which I thoght was solid advice,” Chalamet shared. “I admire both him and Brad! But honestly, my inspiration for acting came from a superhero film—‘The Dark Knight.’ If there’s an exceptional script and director involved, I would definitely consider it.”
On another note regarding franchises,Pitt may soon find himself part of another one following the success of “F1.” The racing film achieved Apple’s highest opening weekend ever; sources have indicated that discussions about a sequel are already underway. Additionally, he is set to reprise his role from “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” for an upcoming sequel directed by David Fincher at Netflix.