EXCLUSIVE: Julianne Nicholson and Coco Greenstone are set to join Brad Pitt in A24’s feature adaptation of The Riders with Edward Berger directing. David Kajganich will adapt Tim Winton’s novel. Deadline was first to report last spring that Berger, Pitt and A24 were boarding the project that Scott Free had been developing for some time.
The novel follows Fred Scully (Pitt), who, after traveling through Europe for two years, winds up in Ireland with his wife and daughter. And on a mystical whim of his wife Jennifer, they buy an old farmhouse that stands in the shadow of a castle. While Scully spends weeks alone renovating the old house, Jennifer returns to Australia to liquidate their assets. When Scully arrives at Shannon Airport to pick up Jennifer and their 7-year-old daughter, Billie, it is Billie who emerges — alone. There is no note, no explanation, not so much as a word from Jennifer, and the shock has left Billie speechless. In that instant, Scully’s life falls to pieces.
Scott Free’s Ridley Scott and Michael Pruss will produce the film alongside Kajganich and Berger’s Nine Hours, and Pitt, Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner for Plan B Entertainment. Production will commence this month and shoot in multiple locations across Europe. A24 will finance and handle the worldwide theatrical release of the film.
Nicholson had herself a strong 2025 on the TV front which included an Emmy-nominated performance on Paradise as well as an Emmy-winning guest role on the HBO Max series Hacks. She can be seen next on the second season of Paradise, which premieres next month on Hulu.
The film marks Greenstone’s first starring role in a major studio movie.
Nicholson is represented by Untitled Entertainment, B-Side Management, and UTA and Greenstone is represented by PARR Management.
English (US) ·