The Oscar‑winner says he kept boiled chicken handy to keep the dog Uber focused during intense Alaskan wilderness scenes, Koimoi says.
Brad Pitt has turned a simple snack into a set‑piece for keeping his four‑legged co‑star in line. While filming the survival drama Heart of the Beast in the remote hills of New Zealand, the actor confessed to tucking boiled chicken into his pockets whenever the canine, a Labrador named Uber, began to wander.
The tactic, which the star described as a quick fix for a restless dog, proved especially useful during the film’s heavier sequences. "And I just kept a lot of boiled chicken in my pocket, and real good in the middle of a scene, like being emotional and then having to stop and, like, bring us some boiled chicken, and we’d get right back into the scene," Pitt told the outlet that first reported the story. The chicken, he added, acted like a tiny reward that snapped the animal’s attention back to the camera.
A military‑style approach
Pitt wasn’t alone in handling the dog. He worked alongside Steve Stoops, a specialist who trains K‑9 units for the armed forces. According to Koimoi, the duo borrowed techniques from military dog programs, emphasizing play, care and a sense of adventure for the animal. "They make sure that they’re having fun, that they’re cared for, that they’re loved, that there’s something adventurous for them in that day," Pitt quoted the trainer as saying.
The set, perched amid New Zealand’s rugged terrain, offered a buffet of distractions for a scent‑driven animal. From the salty sea breeze to the occasional crew lunch, Uber’s nose was constantly on alert. The boiled chicken, tucked away in Pitt’s jacket, became a low‑key way to redirect that instinct without halting the shoot for long.
A funny side‑effect
The snack‑strategy did come with an unexpected personal cost. The actor joked that he’s now avoiding chicken altogether after a bout of food‑related illness. "But yeah, I really can’t eat chicken since I got sick," he laughed, hinting that the on‑set habit may have left a lingering taste.
Fans of the film have taken to social media, sharing memes of Pitt’s pocket‑full‑of‑chicken and speculating whether the method will become a Hollywood staple. Some have even suggested a future spin‑off where the actor teaches other stars how to keep canine co‑stars focused.
The movie itself, a tale of a former Army Ranger and his military dog battling the Alaskan wild, leans heavily on the chemistry between man and beast. Pitt’s anecdote points to how much of that chemistry was cultivated off‑camera, with a simple piece of protein acting as the glue.
As Heart of the Beast rolls out in theatres worldwide, the chicken‑pocket story adds a quirky footnote to the film’s promotion. Whether it will inspire other actors to carry snacks for their animal partners remains to be seen, but for now, Brad Pitt’s pocket‑full‑of‑boiled‑chicken has earned its place in the behind‑the‑scenes lore.
The film continues its global run, and audiences can expect more behind‑the‑scenes tidbits as the promotional tour picks up pace. Keep an eye on upcoming interviews – there may be more unconventional tricks waiting to be revealed.
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