Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt recently shared how David Fincher’s 1995 psychological thriller ‘Se7en’ played a pivotal role in reigniting his passion for acting. During an appearance on the Armchair Podcast, Pitt candidly reflected on the “most unhealthy” period of his life in 1994, when he was struggling with direction—both personally and professionally.
Pitt described his daily routine at the time as self-destructive, involving bong hits, multiple Cokes, and no food, while obsessively following the O.J. Simpson trial. He admitted feeling lost, unsure of his next career move—until his longtime manager and close friend, Cynthia Pett-Dante, handed him the Se7en script. Initially unimpressed by what he thought was a tired cop drama trope, Pitt reluctantly read further and was hooked.
What truly convinced Pitt to take the role was his meeting with director David Fincher, whose deep, almost scholarly discussion about filmmaking fascinated him. “He was talking about films like I’d never heard anyone speak about film,” Pitt recalled. That conversation reawakened his creative drive and reminded him why he loved acting.
Pitt went on to star as Detective David Mills, a young cop entangled in a gruesome murder case tied to the seven deadly sins. The film became a critical and commercial hit, solidifying Pitt’s status as a leading man and Fincher’s reputation as a master of dark, psychological thrillers. Decades later, Pitt still credits Se7en with saving him from a personal low and reigniting his artistic fire.