Spoiler alert: This story contains details from the May 31 Season 3 finale of FXX’s “Dave” (streaming on Hulu).
Brad Pitt, arguably one of the last remaining movie stars, doesn’t do television really.
He appeared in a handful of TV series two decades ago, including a memorable 2001 appearance on “Friends” as the nemesis of his then-wife, Jennifer Aniston. So what was he doing on Wednesday’s Season 3 finale of “Dave,” a comedy inspired by the life of co-creator and star Dave Burd, better known to fans of his satirical rap as Lil Dicky?
It’s as simple as Pitt being a fan, says Burd.
“Everyone who works on the show should feel the pride of ‘Oh, we were able to get Brad Pitt,’” Burd says. “Not because ‘Dave’s cool and well connected’ ― because I had no connection to him at all ― but really because the product we make is that elite.”
Pitt’s role in the finale is much larger than a cameo. He appears briefly in Dave’s music video, a catchy ode to his celebrity crush Rachel McAdams, and is invited to Dave’s house after revealing an interest in making music. Unfortunately, Pitt’s timing is terrible: He drops by just as Dave is being held captive by a stalker named Bella (Tenea Intriago). Pitt, Dave and later, his hype man GaTa (born Davionte Ganter), have to figure out how to overcome the deranged, gun-toting fan in the dark, tense episode, which also features Dave’s idol, Drake.
Burd and Ganter discuss how the show nabbed Pitt, what it was like working with the actor, and whether Pitt, who plays himself, survives Bella’s arrow, shot by a crossbow to the chest. (Edited for length and clarity.)
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Question: How did Brad Pitt’s appearance come about?
Dave Burd: I heard that Brad liked the show. I probably took a fairly big risk by writing an entire season finale anchored around him without having ever met him, but knowing that I would reach out to him. I got his email (address), and I sent a very well thought-out email. It took days to write, and sent it, (and) it worked. He is just a massive fan.
Drake I had met, and he had pulled me aside and had talked to me about how much he loves the show. Drake said that it was one of the most important shows of our generation.
Did Pitt improvise or bring any of his own ideas to the role?
Burd: He improvised so much. He took on every single scene by the horns, committed so much. He’s smashing his head against the glass (to escape a studio booth), and I’m believing every moment of it. The episode wrestles with a lot of dark, intense themes, and he was like a beacon of light through the whole thing. He was so funny in it.
The Brad Pitt character that you wrote is so wise. He emphasizes to Dave the importance of loving yourself and believing you are enough. What went into writing for him?
Burd: We were exploring these themes of fame and validation (and) there’s no better embodiment of fame than Brad Pitt. That man has been validated and achieved everything. You can’t be better at what you do than Brad Pitt is at what he does.
At the same time, he’s also a very wise man. I think he has gone through a lot in life. I wanted someone who has been through the quest for validation in their early 30s and who’s probably dealt with obsessive stalkers at some point.
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Does Pitt survive? He’s shown in the credits laughing, but is that the character, or just the actor?
Burd: We wanted to leave it open-ended. We had every version. Me and Drake shot so many different variations of talking about Brad being dead, Brad being alive. And we just didn’t feel like it was worth derailing the scene to get back into it, (so) we left the options open. As the paramedics run in, if you really pay attention, you can see Brad put his hand up and put a little bit of a thumbs-up as it fades to black, and there’s just a beacon of hope.
Brad was like, “Am I dying?” And I was like, “I don’t know.” He was like, “I wouldn’t mind dying.” And I was like, “I don’t want you to die.” Because we all love Brad so much, you know? The world isn’t ready to lose Brad Pitt yet.
Is there anything that surprised you about working with Brad Pitt?
Davionte Ganter: I’m surprised he was on time. He was smiling. I worked with a few people, celebrities and stuff. In my eyes, they big, but he at the top. So it’s just like (for) him to be so genuine and just so nice and just so talkative, it made me feel great. He made me feel like he was my homie, like we was just chilling on the block.
The finale feels so final, in that each character has a nice little bow wrapped on their story. Dave gets to record with his idol, Drake. Do you want to do more? Is there a fourth season coming?
Burd: I don’t see this as final. I have a whole vision for how to move forward. Rest assured, I think that there’s plenty of room to build even further, and I have ideas.
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