The untitled F1 movie under Joseph Kosinski’s direction is starring Brad Pitt in a lead role
Apple Original Films have acquired the rights to an F1 movie starring and produced by Brad Pitt. Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is also attached as a co-producer. The movie is set to be directed by Joseph Kosinski, who is riding high amid the success of his latest movie, Top Gun: Maverick.
Apple is believed to have won out in acquiring the rights over other major studios such as Paramount, MGM, Sony, Universal, Netflix and Amazon.
F1 has seen its popularity in the United States explode in recent years. Its success in this country is largely attributed to the Netflix series Drive to Survive that debuted in March 2019. Film-makers and producers are trying to cash in on the F1 market in America which is flourishing rapidly with each passing day.
As per reports, Bradd Pitt is going to play the role of “a driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie driver and the titans of the sport.”
Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced both Top Gun movies, is also going to produce Pitt’s untitled F1 movie. His production company has experience in the world of racing. However, It’s unclear at this point when filming is going to begin on the project.
F1 continues to build a market of its own on the big screen
There has been no shortage of F1 films in recent years although most have come in the form of documentaries with Schumacher, Williams, McLaren and Senna in the recent past. The 2013 action biographical film ‘Rush’ that recounted the dramatic events of the 1976 title battle between James Hunt and Niki Lauda is very popular among fans.
The sport also has a docu-series on Netflix called Drive To Survive, which has been credited with introducing many new fans to F1.
Besides movies based on F1, numerous F1 drivers have voiced characters in other franchises, with Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher all featuring in the Cars films.
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will also add to this number when the Toy Story spin-off ‘Lightyear’ is released in cinemas this year, with the pair voicing the same character in the Spanish and Italian releases of the film.
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