Brad Pitt Says Retirement Still a Long Way Off

Actor Brad Pitt poses on the red carpet before the screening of "Bullet Train" in Berlin, Germany, July 19, 2022. (Reuters)
Actor Brad Pitt poses on the red carpet before the screening of "Bullet Train" in Berlin, Germany, July 19, 2022. (Reuters)
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Brad Pitt Says Retirement Still a Long Way Off

Actor Brad Pitt poses on the red carpet before the screening of "Bullet Train" in Berlin, Germany, July 19, 2022. (Reuters)
Actor Brad Pitt poses on the red carpet before the screening of "Bullet Train" in Berlin, Germany, July 19, 2022. (Reuters)

Brad Pitt scotched talk of imminent retirement as he traveled to Paris for the premiere of his Jackie Chan-inspired action caper "Bullet Train".

The 58-year-old had worried fans that his acting days may be numbered after a GQ interview last month in which he said he was in the "last semester" of his career.

But Pitt told AFP: "I'm not getting out by any means.

"It seems that might have been taken as a statement of retirement. That's not what I was saying," he said.

"I'm over that hump of middle age and so I'm looking at that last leg... how do I want to spend that time? At my age, you've made enough mistakes... now there's a comfort in applying that kind of wisdom."

"Bullet Train", which is being released around the world over the next two weeks, sees Pitt trying something new in an action comedy from the director of "John Wick", David Leitch.

Pitt plays a reluctant hit-man fighting off rivals on a Japanese train.

"It's much more fun than the regular punch-up. It's infused with humor and character," he said.

"I can't say enough about Jackie Chan and what he's done, and to be in that arena, even close to that, is something I hadn't done before."

Pitt will next be seen in "Babylon" about Hollywood's golden age, directed by Damien Chazelle ("La La Land").

That will partner him again with Margot Robbie -- the pair starred in Quentin Tarantino's "Once upon a Time in Hollywood", which won Pitt an Oscar in 2020.

But Pitt said he takes particular enjoyment from production duties with his company Plan B.

The company has three best picture Oscar winners to its name -- "The Departed", "Twelve Years a Slave" and "Moonlight" -- and will soon release the hotly tipped "Blonde" about Marilyn Monroe.

"I really like what we've been able to do on the producing end. You get to be part of stories, foster new talent," he said.

Unlike other major movie stars such as Tom Cruise, Pitt is not as wedded to the nostalgia of movie theaters.

"I like the dichotomy, the streamer as well as the theater experience, because films were getting so expensive to do and to market that it was either big tent-pole movies or very small intimate movies and there was no room for anythings in-between. Streamers have opened it up for more voices," he said.

Nonetheless, Pitt said he had recently loved going to watch "Elvis" in a cinema.

"I'm a big fan of Austin Butler, I think he's going to do great work," said Pitt of the film's star.

"It was so much fun to be there again. There's a place for both."



From Beyoncé to Lady Gaga, Who Else Sang the National Anthem at Presidential Inaugurations?

FILE PHOTO: Donald Trump takes the stage to address supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Donald Trump takes the stage to address supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
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From Beyoncé to Lady Gaga, Who Else Sang the National Anthem at Presidential Inaugurations?

FILE PHOTO: Donald Trump takes the stage to address supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Donald Trump takes the stage to address supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

President-elect Donald Trump selected opera tenor Christopher Macchio to perform the national anthem at Monday's inauguration, at which Carrie Underwood will also perform “America the Beautiful,” The Associated Press reported. Here’s a list of some singers at previous presidential inaugurations:
John F Kennedy, 1961: Contralto Marian Anderson sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965: The United States Marine Band performed the national anthem.
Richard Nixon, 1969: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir accompanied by the United States Marine Band performed the national anthem.
Richard Nixon, 1973: Jazz great Ethel Ennis sang the national anthem.
Jimmy Carter, 1977: Cantor Isaac Goodfriend, a Holocaust survivor, accompanied by the US Marine Band sang the national anthem.
Ronald Reagan, 1981: Amateur singer Juanita Booker sang the national anthem.
Ronald Reagan, 1985: The United States Marine Band performed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Opera singer Jessye Norman also performed.
George Bush, 1989: Staff Sergeant Alvy Powell of the US Army Band sang the national anthem.
Bill Clinton, 1993: Opera singer Marilyn Horne sang the national anthem.
Bill Clinton, 1997: Santita Jackson, the daughter of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and the Resurrection Choir sang the national anthem. Jessye Norman also performed.
George W. Bush, 2001: Army Staff Sgt. Alec T. Maly sang the national anthem.
George W. Bush, 2005: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bradley Bennett sang the national anthem. Singers Susan Graham and Denyce Graves also performed.
Barack Obama, 2009: The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters sang the national anthem. Aretha Franklin also performed.
Barack Obama, 2013: Beyoncé performed the national anthem and later said she had lip-synced to a taped track. James Taylor also sang.
Donald Trump, 2017: Jackie Evancho sang the national anthem.
Joe Biden, 2021: Lady Gaga sang the national anthem. Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks also performed.