Josh Brolin has unveiled a striking new back tattoo, and it’s already turning heads for an unexpected reason. The fresh ink immediately draws comparisons to Ben Affleck’s famously bold back piece, sparking fans’ curiosity about the inspiration behind Brolin’s latest body art choice.
Josh Brolin gets a new back tattoo
On Saturday, November 22, 2025, the Dune star was spotted surfing in Santa Barbara, and his back appeared remarkably impressive. This is because he had a large new tattoo inked on his back.
According to TMZ, Josh Brolin unveiled a substantial new lighthouse tattoo on his back, which became visible when he enjoyed his time on the beach.
The large black tattoo depicts a lighthouse rising from the waves, accompanied by two topless mermaids framing the scene. Furthermore, it appears to include the word “aretê,” an ancient Greek term that translates to “fulfillment” and “virtue,” positioned squarely between the veteran actor’s shoulder blades.
Interestingly, Brolin’s newly revealed tattoo is drawing significant comparisons to Ben Affleck’s previous iconic full-back phoenix design—and the resemblance is striking. Similar to the Gone Girl star’s vibrant and expansive body artwork, Brolin’s tattoo covers his entire back with bold details and rich color.
This tattoo design has generated renewed interest online, with many fans eager to know if the Deadpool 2 actor’s dramatic new ink is permanent or not. This is particularly intriguing considering that, just last year, the Academy Award nominee had a tattoo removed from one of his shoulders. He even publicly expressed gratitude to the company for assisting in its removal.
Despite that moment, Josh Brolin now appears to have filled his back once again with a bold new tattoo design, marking a noticeable shift from his approach a year ago. On the work front, he recently appeared in The Running Man, which premiered in theaters on November 14, 2025.
Originally reported by Ayesha Zafar on Mandatory.
