James Gray Claims ‘Ad Astra’ Was Altered by Studio: ‘A Very Different Film’

Director James Gray has candidly discussed his 2019 sci-fi film ‘Ad Astra,’ revealing that the theatrical version was not the one he initially envisioned. These remarks were made during an interview at Cannes, where he was also promoting his latest film, ‘Paper Tiger.’

Gray explained that the final cut of ‘Ad Astra,’ featuring Brad Pitt, was significantly influenced by studio involvement from 20th Century Fox. He noted that the film underwent substantial changes following poor test screenings, leading to reshoots and editing decisions made by the studio rather than himself.

He expressed his feelings about the situation directly, stating, “That film was taken away from me. That’s not my cut of the movie.” Gray elaborated that collaborating with a studio on a large-budget film often involves navigating numerous external decisions that can alter the project’s direction.

He mentioned that there was ongoing pressure and discussions during post-production, particularly as the studio was undergoing changes after being acquired by Disney. According to Gray, this created confusion and made it challenging for him to retain control over the film’s final version.

Despite ‘Ad Astra’ having a substantial budget of around $80 million, Gray compared it to his new film ‘Paper Tiger,’ which was produced for about $15 million. He expressed a preference for working on smaller projects where he has greater control over the end result.

Gray also shared an intriguing detail about the editing process, noting that the released version of ‘Ad Astra’ is actually longer than his intended cut. He remarked, “It would have been a very different movie,” adding that his preferred version would have been approximately 12 minutes shorter. He humorously noted that he might be one of the few directors who would opt for a shorter director’s cut.

He expressed hope that he might eventually release his own version of the film, although he acknowledged that it ultimately depends on studio decisions. Still, he would like the opportunity to show audiences what his original vision entailed.

‘Ad Astra,’ released in 2019, is a science fiction film centered on an astronaut’s journey through space to locate his father, whose mission may pose a threat to Earth. The film also featured Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, and Donald Sutherland. It garnered positive reviews for its visuals and performances, particularly Brad Pitt’s portrayal, but did not achieve strong box office results.

The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and was subsequently released by 20th Century Fox. It received an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound Mixing. Despite mixed commercial performance, it remains a widely discussed film, particularly regarding its production process.

Gray’s recent comments shed new light on how much ‘Ad Astra’ evolved during its development and how different it might have been had his original version been released.

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