Brad's Next Move

By Stephen M. Silverman

08/11/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Brad Pitt and the Coen Brothers ("Fargo") may sound like an odd pairing, but the Hollywood Reporter confirms that the recent groom is committed to star in Joel and Ethan Coen's "To the White Sea," based on author James Dickey's ("Deliverance") novel of the same name. The story concerns a World War II American tail gunner stranded in Japan and his lengthy search for a way home. Although Pitt's past few movies -- "Fight Club," "Meet Joe Black" and "Seven Years in Tibet" -- did not catch fire at the box office, his future slate of releases looks promising. Coming up he's got "Snatch," from writer-director Guy Ritchie (the father of Madonna's new baby Rocco) and "The Mexican," costarring Julia Roberts and James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos"). He is expected to start shooting "To the White Sea" in Japan next year, after he finishes his role in the all-star remake of "Oceans 11," with George Clooney.