It’s his biggest blockbuster role in years, but Brad Pitt had personal motives for making his latest zombie action film.
In the movie (based on the book by Max Brooks), Brad plays former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane, who saves the world from a zombie pandemic. But the main catalyst for Brad taking the lead role was family – his sons Maddox (11) and Pax (9).
“I haven’t done any films like this, and it’s like some of the films I grew up with, and something my sons would be into,” said Brad, who attended the Sydney premiere with Pax.
The film, which the actor also produced, was plagued by production issues and cost around $250 million to make. His desire to be close to fiancée Angelina Jolie meant he was often unavailable
for re-shoots, but over 40 minutes’ worth of footage had to be re-shot after the ending was considered “not strong enough”.
However, despite the production problems, Brad proved he was a real-life hero – at one stage saving a woman from being trampled during a chase scene.
“It was chaos, as 700 extras were trying to get down the street – they were banging into moving cars, cameras and military who were carrying heavy machine guns,” an insider told The Scottish Sun newspaper. “Lots of people hurt themselves and Brad came to the rescue of a woman who slipped. I don’t think she could believe it when Brad picked her up.”
