The film is a parody of the politics of warfare, based on the book The Operators: The Wild & Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan. Written and directed by David Michod, it is a fictionalised retelling of the rise and fall of the real-life General Stanley McChrystle.

Joining Pitt in War Machine is a highly decorated cast including Emory Cohen, RJ Cyler, Topher Grace, Anthony Michael Hall, Anthony Hayes, John Magaro, Tilda Swinton and Sir Ben Kingsley.

War Machine is due for release on Netflix on 26 May.