Wonder if they tried for a bigger name as the father

TLJ is a big movie name no doubt (The Fugitive, JFK, MiB, and of course Space Cowboys) but he's not really the mega A lister legendary movie star on the scale of Brando in Apocalypse Now (which this movie was clearly influenced by/going for), so wonder if offers were made to other bigger name/iconic stars (and at least early 70s to be Brads dad) ,

Clint Eastwood? another 'Space Cowboy' (that movie must've been on the mind of the director with using 3 actors from it), but Clint probably just abit too old at 89 in 2019, maybe had he been Gran Torino age.. although he did The Mule in 2018, but lately he only acts in stuff he directs and can't see him be too interested in making the exception for Ad Astra's script.

Harrison Ford? already co starred with Brad in The Devils Own. And obviously there's be the fun Star Wars connection.

Warren Beatty? might've been an interesting choice as like the character in the movie he's been off the radar for a good 20+y (aside the Oscar gaff)..but not probably a recognisable enough name now?

Jack Nicolson? think he's been fully retired/not too well for past decade or so

Bruce Willis? he was still appearing in movies at the time (Glass in 2019 being his last 'proper' movie), but only 8y older than Pitt but probably get away with it, but probably too affected by his condition (think MNight said he was suffering filming Glass but since was all financed by him was able to do it), but there'd be the fun Armageddon connection (Liv Tyler!) Bruce goes from saving earth to destroying it! (Bruce still gets brought up in msm every time a comet or any slight threat is reported as coming near earth).

Pacino/DeNiro? too obvious? Idk I have a feeling both wouldve been approached before TLJ, but turned it down (unlikely as they do anything and everything these days) or more likely couldn't do it bc of filming The Irishman.

Bonus suggestion: William Shatner. Ok it would've possibly been too comical/ridiculous to be taken seriously (and boy was this a serious movie) but would've been fun for it to be literally Captain Kirk as Brads crazy astronaut pop searching for alien life (and using footage from him in the Star Trek TV series and movies to show him younger at NASA etc), Shatner is actually a great actor and could see him in the role, he'd been believable as being Brad Pitts father (being a hunky guy like Brad when he was younger), he was about to go to space for real 2y later, and let's not forget the Fight Club reference 'id fight William Shatner' (he actually would at the end of this movie! in space!),