Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt has slipped quietly into New Zealand to film his latest blockbuster.
The 61-year-old was spotted at Auckland airport earlier this week to begin work on the action film, Heart of the Beast.
The story centres on a former US Navy SEAL who becomes stranded in the rugged North American wilderness with his retired ‘combat dog’.
Locations on NZ’s south island, including Queenstown, will be used to ‘stand-in’ for Alaska, where the story is set.
According to Stuff, Pitt will remain in Auckland to attend to pre-production meetings before filming, which will begin next month.
The world-famous tourist destination of Milford Sound (Piopiotahi), a fjord known for its stunning scenery and beautiful mountain peaks, will also feature as a location.
Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt has slipped quietly into New Zealand to film his latest blockbuster. Pictured: Brad Pitt seen in Hungary at the Budapest Grand Prix in 2024
The new film will see Pitt once again working with filmmaker David Ayer who directed the legendary heartthrob in the 2014 World War II action film, Tank.
Pitt’s successful production company Plan B are producing the film for Paramount Pictures.
The Otago Daily Times reported that the movie is expected to be filmed over seven weeks.
Meanwhile, Pitt’s new blockbuster F1 will be heading into cinemas Down Under in June.
Set in the high-stakes world of Formula 1 motor racing, Pitt plays a champion driver who comes out of retirement to challenge a young up-and-comer.
Directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, F1 co-stars Oscar-winner Javier Bardem and Tobias Menzies who rose to fame after playing Prince Phillip in the Netflix hit The Crown.
After just two years of marriage, the actress filed for divorce from Brad in September 2016.
The film will reunite Pitt with filmmaker David Ayer who directed the star in the 2014 World War II action film Fury. (Pictured)
Pitt had a high-profile two-year marriage to actress Angelina Jolie. She filed for divorce in 2016. The separation was finalised in 2019. Pictured: The former couple in 2012
The former couple later released a joint statement declaring that they would keep all divorce proceedings private for the sake of their children.
They said: ‘The parties and their counsel have signed agreements to preserve the privacy rights of their children and family by keeping all court documents confidential and engaging a private judge to make any necessary legal decisions and to facilitate the expeditious resolution of any remaining issues.
‘The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification.’
Following their split, they were declared legally single in 2019 but locked in a lengthy battle over custody and legal issues over their French estate and winery, Château Miraval.
The high-profile pair, once known as ‘Brangelina‘, share three biological children – Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16 – and their adopted children Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, and Zahara, 19.
Ms Jolie’s divorce lawyer James Simon told DailyMail.com that his client is ‘relieved this one part is over.’
