As Edward Berger’s Oscar-nominated film, Conclave is getting renewed attention because of Pope Francis’ death, it has been announced that Berger will be directing a Brad Pitt film adaptation. The upcoming film, The Riders, is based on Tim Winton’s novel of the same name. It will be financed and distributed by A24.

Screenwriter David Kajganich who co-wrote Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All and Suspiria will pen the script. Ridley Scott and Michael Pruss of Scott Free, Kajganich and Berger of nine hours, and Pitt, Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner of Plan B Entertainment are producing.

The novel, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1995, follows an Australian man who lives in Ireland with his family. While awaiting the return of his wife and seven-year-old daughter at the airport, his daughter arrives alone without an ability to explain what has happened to her mother.

Prior to working on this film, Pitt’s new Apple movie F1 will be released next month. He is also reprising his character, Cliff Booth, from Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood in David Fincher’s highly anticipated sequel for Netflix. Tarantino is staying involved and will be writing the screenplay.

The film has been in development since as far back as 2000. Production is set to begin in early 2026.