Four dogs playing one? ‘Heart of the Beast’ books ‘Best Canine Actor’ award over Brad Pitt!

〈Heart of the Beast〉 features Odin, a military dog who is James’ closest comrade and a co-lead driving the story forward. Because Odin had to handle numerous action sequences and missions throughout the film, the production conducted an extensive casting search across New Zealand, and animal coordinator Andrew Simpson selected four dogs, each with distinct traits. The main dog in the role was Uber, a commanding German shepherd weighing more than 45 kilograms. After working as a police dog, Uber served as a search-and-rescue dog. He had already experienced a range of environments, including helicopters, boats and trucks, and also had the composure to perform reliably in front of the camera, making him the central dog in the role of Odin. Uber’s son Zika, along with Riker and Hondo, also brought their individual specialties to outdoor action and stunts, together creating a single Odin. Rather than having one dog handle every scene, the filmmakers maximized each dog’s strengths to portray the many sides of Odin in the film.

Brad Pitt brought his own passion, matching the dedication of a trainer as he worked with his four-legged co-stars and added a special behind-the-scenes story. To portray the relationship between James and Odin naturally, Pitt arrived in New Zealand three weeks before filming and spent time with the dogs every day, building a bond with them. Once filming began, he went beyond being a simple acting partner, personally guiding the dogs’ movements from behind the camera and building their trust. That process naturally came through in the relationship between James and Odin on screen.

The co-star training featurette released alongside the film captures special moments Brad Pitt and Uber shared on set. Animal coordinator Andrew Simpson marveled at the close bond the two performers had built since before filming, saying, “Brad became close to Uber very quickly,” and, “Their chemistry comes through exactly as it is on screen.” Pitt also openly showed his affection for Uber, gently stroking him and saying, “Look at this. It’s just overflowing with love.”

〈Heart of the Beast〉, which brings the military dog Odin’s unforgettable presence to life through Brad Pitt’s exceptional passion and the work of his four canine co-stars, will meet audiences in theaters across South Korea on Oct. 28.