Brad Pitt Goes to Space in Debut Trailer for This Fall’s ‘Ad Astra’

One of the most fascinating directors around is James Gray, the man behind The Lost City of Z, We Own the Night, and The Yards. While not the most prolific director—he's only made 6 films since his 1994 debut, Little Odessa—his latest film, Ad Astra, has been three years in the making and if this debut trailer is any indication, it's going to be worth the wait.

The film stars Brad Pitt—who was originally cast to play the lead in Lost City of Z—as an astronaut who idolizes his father (Tommy Lee Jones) an astronaut killed in the line of duty some years ago. However, evidence comes to light that his father is not dead and might, in fact, be alive in outer space, unleashing some sort of force that threatens the planet. Pitt is then assigned, Apocalypse Now-style, to go into space, find his father, and terminate him with extreme prejudice.

The film was supposed to debut at last month's Cannes Film Festival, but apparently Gray needed more time to finish the visual effects, which isn't terribly surprising considering how effects-heavy this flick looks. Interesting fact, this film also reunites Tommy Lee Jones with his Space Cowboys co-star Donald Sutherland. Are they part of the same universe, because if I recall correctly, Tommy Lee Jones was presumed dead in space at the end of that film as well.

We'll find out if Ad Astra is part of the Space Cowboys Cinematic Universe when it opens in theaters across North America on September 20.