David Ayer says it was 'straightforward' in getting Brad Pitt on board Fury because he fell in love with the character.
Fury is set to hit the big screen this autumn and sees Ayer direct his second film of 2014: the first being Sabotage.
Pitt takes on the central role and marks the first collaboration between the actor and the director.
Speaking to Collider, the director said: "He got his hands on the script and he wanted to do it. It was pretty straightforward. He read it and, I think, fell in love with the character. He read it fast. It all unfolded very quickly.
"He was ready for total immersion and he was ready to play this troubled, complex guy who outwardly doesn’t seem like the best guy.
"But then you get to know him and you start to understand the true loneliness of having other peoples’ lives in your hands.
"You’re responsible for people and have to keep them alive. And sometimes you’ve got to send them to their deaths while others live. He captures that darkness."
Fury is a World War II drama and follows a tank crew and their experience of the way. Pitt is joined on the cast list by Logan Lerman, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Pena, and Jon Bernthal.
As well as being in the director's chair, Ayer has penned the screenplay as he tackles the war genre for the first time.
Fury is released 24th October.
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