Brad Pitt stars and produces the sci-fi drama Ad Astra, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival today (August 29, 2019), said that the film was a personal one and to some extent dealt with the modern concept of โmasculinity.โ
โIn retrospect, what James and I were digging at was that definition of masculinity,โ Pitt said at a news conference, alongside director James Gray and co-star Liv Tyler.
โWeโve both grown up in an era where we were asked to be strongโฆand there is a value in that, but [also a] barrier because youโre hiding some of those things you feel ashamed of. We all hide and carry individual pain and wounds.โ

The film focuses on the journey of Pittโs character, Roy McBride, to a colony in Neptune to try to save the solar system from a potentially cataclysmic event. The man behind the threat, as the trailer reveals, appears to be his highly celebrated astronaut father, played by Tommy Lee Jones.
โWe were asking the question, is there a better definition for us?โ he continued. โDoes being more open provide you with a better relation with your loved ones and with yourself? At the end of the day, thatโs certainly what we were after.โ
Pitt also offered some comments about his relationship with Gray, which he describes as not a โnormal male relationship.โ

โJames and I donโt have the normal male relationship,โ Pitt added. โHe would send really personal emails, exposing ideas from his own life. That really would define the dayโs work and the scenes were honed by it, and itโs something I still value. It was a unique experience.โ
Enjoy more photos of Brad Pitt in a tuxedo at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Ad Astra.
US actor Brad Pitt poses for selfie photos as he arrives on August 29, 2019 for the screening of the film โAd Astraโ during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP / Getty Images) Brad Pitt walks the red carpet ahead of the โAd Astraโ screening during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 29, 2019 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images) Brad Pitt attends the โAd Astraโ screening during during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 29, 2019 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Lexus) Brad Pitt walks the red carpet ahead of the โAd Astraโ screening during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 29, 2019 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images) Brad Pitt attends the โAd Astraโ screening during during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 29, 2019 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Lexus) (R-L) Liv Tyler, Director James Gray, Ruth Negga and Brad Pitt walk the red carpet ahead of the โAd Astraโ screening during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 29, 2019 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) Brad Pitt walks the red carpet ahead of the โAd Astraโ screening during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 29, 2019 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) US actor Brad Pitt arrives on August 29, 2019 for the screening of the film โAd Astraโ during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP / Getty Images) US actor Brad Pitt arrives on August 29, 2019 for the screening of the film โAd Astraโ during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP / Getty Images) Brad Pitt walks the red carpet ahead of the โAd Astraโ screening during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 29, 2019 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) Brad Pitt walks the red carpet ahead of the โAd Astraโ screening during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 29, 2019 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) US actor Brad Pitt arrives on August 29, 2019 for the screening of the film โAd Astraโ during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP / Getty Images) US actor Brad Pitt arrives on August 29, 2019 for the screening of the film โAd Astraโ during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP / Getty Images) Brad Pitt walks the red carpet ahead of the โAd Astraโ screening during the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 29, 2019 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)