MOVIES
Brad Pitt given special permission to be on track at F1 British Grand Prix
The actor’s upcoming film portrays the story of a veteran Formula 1 racer redemptively emerging from retirement.
Brad Pitt’s new Formula 1 film will see him not only work with Lewis Hamilton on screen, but also at an actual Grand Prix weekend as well.
The movie will be released by Hamilton’s production company, Dawn Apollo Films, with the F1 legend as the lead producer and Penni Thow as an executive producer.
Little of the film’s plot has been revealed, but fans can expect the movie to hit theaters in 2024.
Pitt at the British Grand Prix
In preparation for the film, Pitt has been granted special permission to complete the first parade lap at the 2023 British Grand Prix in order to film the blockbuster.
This means Pitt will actually be on track with the likes of Hamilton and the other F1 drivers. While risky given the cost of an F1 car, the move was pushed through by bosses in order to give the movie as much realistic footage as possible.
“Watching Brad Pitt leading the field in the British Grand Prix will be an incredible and surreal moment for TV viewers and fans at Silverstone this July,” a source told The Sun.
Hamilton part of the cast
Executives on the project have said their goal is to make the movie as realistic as possible — thus Hamilton’s role. Hamilton is a seven-time Formula 1 World Drivers’ champion.
The British-born driver is listed as part of the cast for Pitt’s movie, and they are expected to film the project during the summer of 2023.
“It’s a cool project,” Lewis said about making the movie with Pitt, “spending good time with Brad is pretty epic.”
Pitt and Lewis are joined by Damson Idris, who was in ‘Black Mirror’, ‘Snowfall’, and ‘Swarm’. The F1 movie, yet to be titled, is directed by ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ director, Joseph Kosinski, with more ‘Maverick’ creatives on the project, including Jerry Bruckheimer as producer, and Ehren Kruger as screenplay writer.
Real-life F1 contributors
With the aim in mind to sustain “naturalistic effects” in the making of the film, the project’s creators have worked closely with F1, its participants, and the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile).
Brad Pitt’s character is an F1 veteran who comes out of retirement to mentor a rising star.