Pitt rides 'War Machine' to Netflix

Bryan Alexander | USA TODAY

Brad Pitt is taking his War Machine to Netflix.

Pitt will produce and star in the satirical comedy War Machine, playing a four-star, "rock star" general commanding the American war in Afghanistan, according to a Netflix press release sent out Monday morning.

Pitt's first Netflix venture will see a theatrical release and will available to members of the Internet TV service globally in 2016.

Australian writer and director David Michôd ( Animal Kingdom, The Rover) will direct the project. Shooting is scheduled to start in August.

The film is inspired by the best-selling book The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan by the late author Michael Hastings.

"We are so excited to be a part of the inspiring commitment by Netflix to produce cutting-edge content and to deliver it to a global audience," Pitt said in the Netflix release.

The film will be by produced by Netflix, Pitt, his Plan B production company partners Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, and producer Ian Bryce (World War Z, Saving Private Ryan).