It’s been entertaining watching Brad Pitt on this press tour for his new movie, trying so hard, all this effort – because the image he’s crafted over these last three decades is the opposite of try. Brad Pitt’s whole brand is effortless cool, I wrote a whole essay about this at our Substack, The Squawk, just this past weekend – how incongruous the Brad Pitt we’ve been seeing recently is with the Brad that we thought we knew. 

 

All movie stars have to sell their movies, I’m not here to criticise the act of selling a movie. Just pointing out that the style of the selling varies from movie star to movie star. Tom Cruise, for example, has always been about trying, nobody tries harder when they’re selling a movie than Tom Cruise. And lately, for this movie, Brad has looked a lot like Tom Cruise. 

Which is interesting on so many levels, especially since Tom showed up in London to support Brad’s movie last night. 

@warnerbrosuk

Hollywood legends Brad Pitt & Tom Cruise team up at the F1 THE MOVIE European Premiere!   #F1TheMovie #F1 #TomCruise #BradPitt #Filmtok

♬ original sound - Warner Bros. UK
 

As noted in the caption, no doubt, these are two Hollywood legends … who haven’t been seen together like this in a long, long, LONG time. Brad and Tom famously co-starred in Interview with the Vampire back in 1994. And Brad has talked about how miserable he was making that film – you can tell if you watch it back, there is no mistaking his disdain for the role and the project. He hated it so much he tried to get out of it but was then told the penalty would be $40 million so he stuck it out. 

 

Also, Brad and Tom did not get on well during Interview. We know this because Brad said as much in an interview in Premiere magazine. Lately I’ve mentioned how much I miss Movieline and also Premiere from back in the day because celebrities were so much more candid in those features than they are now. Here’s another example – Brad telling Premiere after Interview with the Vampire that: 

“[Tom bugged me.] There came a point during filming when I started really resenting him. He’s North Pole, I’m South. He’s always coming at you with a handshake, whereas I may bump into you. There was this underlying competition that got in the way of any real conversation." 

I’m pulling this quote because I thought of it right away when I saw Brad and Tom interacting last night at the premiere. “He’s always coming at you with a handshake, whereas I may bump into you” – that’s kinda what happened, 30 years later, LOLOLOLOL. 

@mtvuk

Tom Cruise coming to support Brad Pitt at the premiere of F1: The Movie ✨ bestie behaviour! #TomCruise #BradPitt #F1 #F1TheMovie #FilmTok #MTVMovies

♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER x WE CANT BE FRIENDS Adamusic - Adamusic
 

They were supposedly close to co-starring again a few years ago on Ford v Ferrari but couldn’t get the financing together and eventually that film was made with a whole other team. During production on Brad’s new movie, there were rumours that there may have been some pettiness, considering that race car driving is Tom’s thing; he’s been curiously absent from the F1 circuit since Brad’s involvement. 

With this one awkwardish appearance, though, the past is ostensibly dissolved. They’re both in their 60s now, they’re both crusading for the cinematic experience, for the survival of big movies starring big movie stars – united by a common goal, these two huge movie stars have come together with their handshakes and body bumps to bro down for the business. And we, the audience, the public, the paying consumer, are supposed to be enthralled by the glamour factor of these two supernovas reuniting spectacularly for nostalgia, one moment to evoke all the memories. 

@entertainmenttonight

The boys are back! Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise reunited at the 'F1' premiere in London 👏 #bradpitt #tomcruise #f1 #formula1

♬ original sound - Entertainment Tonight - Entertainment Tonight
 
@adraamagirl

Tom Cruise & Brad Pitt 😇 #tom #tomcruise #tomcruiseedit #tomcruisefan #brad #bradpitt #bradpittedit #before #after #beforeandafter #beforeandnow #fromthistothis #beforeafter #fromthistothat #redcarpet #premiere #f1 #f1movie #hollywood #legends #legendstar #legend #bestactor #icon #superstar #avantpremiere #london #moviepremiere #american #handsomeman #shakeittothemax #mission #star #reunion #photooftheday #goviral #fyp #pourtoi #pourtoii

♬ Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix) - MOLIY & Skillibeng & Shenseea
 

I’m here so obviously I’m interested. This is my job, after all, to cover celebrity and strategy. And honestly, if you had told me in advance, I would have expected to be more interested than I actually am. But it smells like they’re trying to set this up like this was like when Beyoncé showed up for Taylor Swift’s movie premiere and ….not even in the same conversation, really. According to my feeds, the internet was firmly intact over this coming together, nowhere near broken. 

I am curious though to see if Brad returns the favour. Tom Cruise’s next release should be Alejandro González Iñárritu’s as yet untitled film for which there will surely be an awards strategy attached. Tom is getting an honorary Oscar this year, it’s already confirmed. And if Iñárritu’s film hits the way his others have, Tom could be a contender. 

He and Brad have a connection through Alejandro (Brad was in Babel) so that’s a double direction situation since, presumably, it was Joseph Kosinski who brought them together for this red carpet appearance. Would Brad stump for Tom for Oscar? Let us know what you think at The Squawk. (App link here)