This was the first Venice to take place since last year's SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. On one hand: The stars were back! On the other: American film production was shut down for a significant chunk of 2023, which is when many movies in this year's festival would have been trying to shoot.
During the press conference, Brad Pitt humorously remarked that "the restraining order was up" which broke the ice, showcasing their longstanding friendship. This lightheartedness set the tone for their interaction.