Heart of the Beast: Brad Pitt, a Rolex Submariner, & Military Working Dogs

Brad Pitt's Rolex Submariner in Heart of the Beast is a Nod to a SEAL Team Six Operator and His Dog 

Last week, Paramount released the first production stills from Heart of the Beast, an upcoming survival drama starring Brad Pitt as James Belmont, a retired Army Special Forces soldier and Delta Force operator stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with his military working dog, Odin. Even before the photos surfaced, I was looking forward to the film. Director David Ayer reached out last year seeking advice on wrist compasses, so I knew he was putting thought into the details. I had all but forgotten about it, but when I saw the photos, I immediately recognized the Rolex Submariner on a green and red striped fabric strap alongside a Waltham-style wrist compass.

(Photo Credit: Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures)

To most, this minor detail will blend in with the other military-inspired gear, including an olive-drab watch cap and a camo shirt, but to us, it’s never just a watch. I reached out to Ayer, who coyly suggested the choice was influenced by a familiar story. As it turns out, the watch was a subtle nod to Will Chesney, a SEAL Team Six/DEVGRU assaulter who wore a similar, no-date, "two-line " Submariner on Operation Neptune Spear, the 2011 raid that killed Usama bin Laden. The subject of a previous Dispatch article (read HERE), Chesney was a dog handler whose bond with Cairo extended far beyond the battlefield, a relationship that parallels the emotional foundation of Heart of the Beast. 

The Watch - Rolex Submariner 

(Photo Credit: David Ayers)

The watch worn by Pitt is a Rolex Submariner no-date reference 14060, one of the last classic Submariners with a traditional aluminum bezel insert and drilled lugs. The version with two lines of text at six o’clock (vice 4) and “SWISS MADE” at 6 o’clock was produced from approximately 2001 to 2007. For Pitt’s character, a three-decade Army Special Forces veteran with time in the Army’s Special Mission Unit (Delta), this likely would have been a post-GWOT deployment purchase to honor the adage that all a Special Forces man needs are “a star sapphire ring, a Randall knife, and a Rolex.”

Former DEVGRU operator Will Chesney, his Military Working Dog, Cairo, and his Rolex Submariner.

A Special Forces man who joined in the 1990s or early 2000s could realistically have purchased a 14060 during his operational years and carried it into retirement, much like Chesney did. The watch may make less sense on a younger character but fits perfectly for a gray-haired operator looking back on a lifetime of service.

The Strap & Compass

Beyond the Chesney connection, the combination of the fabric strap and wrist compass is arguably even more interesting and meaningful. Chesney wore his 14060 on its factory Oyster bracelet, not a fabric strap, and did not pair it with a compass. Those details appear to be deliberate nods to a much older lineage of special operations history. For decades, starting during the Vietnam conflict and into the Cold War, many Army Special Forces and other SOF units wore Rolex and Tudor Submariners on fabric straps, paired with Waltham wrist compasses. 

Waltham Wrist Compass visible on Pitt’s wrist. (Photo Credit: Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures)

While Belmont is portrayed as a modern operator who is more likely to wear a compass from Suunto, Cammenga, or even the W.O.E. Submersible Wrist Compass, the combination connects him to generations of special operators who came before him, grounding the character in a visual language that feels authentic rather than simply tactical. Again, 99% of viewers and critics will gloss over this fact; we won’t.

The attention to detail extends beyond the watch. Pictured on the crate is a custom Half Face Blades model, a brand with deep roots in the Special Operations community. (Photo Credit: Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures)

David Ayer: He’s One of Us

The film's director, David Ayer, is a US Navy veteran whose films consistently demonstrate an understanding of military and law enforcement culture that is difficult to fake. From Fury to Training Day, Ayer's stories often explore the close relationship between partners, in this case, a working dog and his handler.

Ayer also pays attention to details. In A Working Man, Jason Statham's character wears a Sangin Instruments Kinetic II, a watch from a microbrand founded by a former Marine Raider. To some, it may appear like an obscure choice, but it’s one instantly recognizable to many within our community.  A watch choice may seem insignificant, but masters of any craft understand that authenticity is built through attention to detail. 

In A Working Man, Jason Statham wears a Sangin Kinetic II Expedition, a deep but even by watch nerd standards. (Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Sangin Instruments)

The Submariner, strap, and compass in Heart of the Beast feel like a continuation of that same philosophy. Rather than relying on generic "tacti-cool" props, Ayer appears intent on grounding his characters in authentic military culture, drawing inspiration from real stories, and equipping his characters with realistic gear. 

Final Thoughts

At W.O.E, we often say that in our community, "it's never just a watch," but in Hollywood, it normally is. More often than not, a watch is selected because it looks the part, was available from the prop department, or even worse, because a brand paid for the privilege. Heart of the Beast feels different. The choice of a Rolex Submariner reference 14060 on a fabric strap paired with a wrist compass suggests a level of thoughtfulness that goes beyond aesthetics. Whether viewers notice those details or not is beside the point. The fact that they are there at all tells us something about the filmmakers and the story they are trying to tell.

The role of Odin was portrayed by Uber, a mountain rescue dog from New Zealand, along with his three sons, Seeka, Ryker, and Hondo, all bred from a law enforcement and military working dog program that supplies canines to first responders. (Photo Credit: Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures)

More importantly, Heart of the Beast will likely tap into something that resonates deeply with our generation of GWOT veterans. In a GQ interview, Ayer described the film as a “love story” between a warrior and his dog, focusing on loyalty and resilience rather than combat itself. That theme mirrors the real-life story of Will Chesney and Cairo, whose relationship extended far beyond the Bin Laden raid and became a critical part of Chesney's recovery after years of war. 

Perhaps that is why the watch matters. Not because it is a Rolex, but because it serves as a link between fiction and reality. The Submariner, the strap, and the compass help tell a story about heritage and those who came before. 

Somewhere, this September, a young kid will watch Brad Pitt's character survive against impossible odds with a dog by his side, see the Submariner on his wrist, and think, "I want to be like that guy." Just as previous generations were inspired by war movies and espionage thrillers, Heart of the Beast may inspire the next generation to serve.

And David, if you're reading this, thank you for paying attention to the details. I'll send you an address for the premiere invitation.

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