Hollywood’s $300M F1 Film Facing Delays: What’s Happening with Brad Pitt’s Racing Epic?

Delays Hit Brad Pitt’s $300M F1 Film: What’s Holding Back
Hollywood’s Racing Blockbuster?

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Summary

• Brad Pitt’s highly anticipated F1 film, shot on real racing tracks with custom-built cars, is facing significant delays.
• The untitled project, with a budget exceeding $300 million, began filming in July 2023 at Silverstone, featuring Pitt and Damson Idris.

Shot on genuine racing tracks with custom-built cars, Brad Pitt’s highly anticipated F1 film promises to be a cinematic thrill ride. But when can we expect to see it?

Filming for the untitled project began in July 2023 at Silverstone, featuring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. However, the film, announced at the end of 2021, has encountered delays, distributor issues, and a ballooning budget surpassing $300 million, making it one of the most expensive films ever made. The high-stakes project is a co-production between Apple Studios, Jerry Bruckheimer, and seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, and it’s generating considerable buzz. Still, racing movies have historically been hit-or-miss at the box office.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, known for Top Gun: Maverick, the film employs the same 6K camera technology used for the Top Gun sequel. Despite Brad Pitt’s assurance that “It’s going to be really good,” the film’s progress remains in limbo.

The film lacks an official title, with the Internet Movie Database listing it as the “Untitled Formula One Racing Movie.” MotorSport has speculated the title could be “Apex,” aligning with the fictional F1 team, APX GP, featured in the movie.

Inspired by classics like 1966’s Grand Prix and 1971’s Le Mans, the film uses real-life racing footage. Brad Pitt was spotted filming at Silverstone during last year’s British Grand Prix. However, production stalled due to the SAG-AFTRA strike from July to November, extending the filming timeline.

The story follows Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt, a hotshot F1 driver from the 1990s who left the sport after a devastating accident. Now racing in other competitions, Hayes is coaxed out of retirement by Javier Bardem’s motorsport boss to mentor a young driving prodigy, Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris.

With the real-life Formula One fully backing the project, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has touted the film’s promotional potential, despite the invasive nature of its production. The film team has been credited for staying out of the way during the British Grand Prix, maintaining a low profile.

The production has rolled out the fictional APX GP car, an F2 car modified by Mercedes to resemble an F1 racer, equipped with the smallest moveable 6K cameras to capture thrilling racing action from the cockpit.

While rumors about Brad Pitt driving alongside real racers at actual GPs stirred up fan frustrations, these reports were exaggerated. The production team has demonstrated a commendable ability to avoid disrupting the sport, reassuring fans and stakeholders alike.

Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking F1 film.