‘The Stakes Have Never Been Higher’ for Brad Pitt as He Competes for Scripts With Ryan Gosling

Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling have never had much time for each other, according to a Hollywood insider, who exclusively tells In Touch their competitive natures are threatening to boil over as they each vie to be the face of a planned Ocean’s 11 prequel. 

“Brad and George Clooney are making an effort to regain control of the Ocean’s series after the Sandra Bullock soft reboot and after a script was developed to bring in Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie in as the new franchise leads,” reveals a longtime colleague of the Troy actor, 60.  

“That was a bridge too far for Brad and his team. Copycats have always been a problem for Brad, but after decades in the business, the stakes have never been higher than they are now,” the insider adds.

While Brad has worked with Ryan, 43, on The Big Short and more recently, Margot, 34, on the movie Babylon, the source notes that the Meet Joe Black star pointedly did not cheerlead their blockbuster hit, Barbie.

The point of contention seems to be a power struggle over roles, with the La La Land actor teaming up with Bullet Train director David Leitch to make The Fall Guys, a move that had Brad fuming privately that Ryan was trying to imitate him.

Despite the Wolfs star telling GQ in June 2022 that he feels his acting career is on its “last leg,” the colleague spills he doesn’t believe that for a second, saying, “Forget the self-effacing things Brad has said publicly about not having a lot of movies left in him.”

As the heartthrob pushes into his 60s, he’s refusing to let his age get in the way of the roles he still wants, with the source confirming, “The actual position of Brad and his camp is that Brad isn’t done, especially when it comes to being Hollywood’s most bankable quote-unquote ‘hunk.’”

Even Brad’s longtime collaborator and good friend George, 63, has considered what the shift from bankable stud to aging actor could mean for their careers, explaining GQ, “The phone stops ringing if your decision is that you want to continue to be the character that you were when you were 35, and you want a softer lens.” 

“But if you’re willing to, say, move down the call sheet a little bit and do interesting character work … you have to make peace with the idea that you’re going to die!”

Unwilling to let go of his youthful appeal, Brad has decided to fight for top billing a little while longer, especially as other actors begin competing for the same kinds of roles he had previously been a shoo-in for.

“Brad and Ryan have gotten along over the years, but we’re only right now in a situation where Ryan is actively picking up roles that were offered to Brad first,” the insider explains. “That gets Brad’s attention, especially when it happens multiple times.”

“Sure, Brad and Ryan collaborated, however minimally, on The Big Short a decade ago, but that was a much less competitive time. The marketplace is dog-eat-dog right now, and even Brad feels the need to step up his game and go on offense against his imitators.” 

“Brad still gets offered the better scripts, and he wants to keep it that way!”