Brad Pitt to Drive at British Grand Prix as Part of Production on Formula One Movie

Brad Pitt is getting in the cockpit of a real race car for his upcoming film on Formula One, according to director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

During a panel about the untitled film at the F1 Accelerate Summit in Miami, Kosinski and Bruckheimer shared production details of the Apple Studios movie, which stars Pitt and counts seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton among its producers. According to panel moderator Will Buxton, Kosinksi and Bruckheimer are “creating an 11th team filming on track and on event from Silverstone to the end of the year.” Silverstone is the track where the British Grand Prix takes place. This year, the event will be held on July 9.

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Buxton said that the film’s team has created “the smallest moveable 6k camera ever designed to take the viewer into the cockpit,” where the film’s stars will actually be driving the race cars. “That’s right. Brad Pitt driving an F1 car from Silverstone onwards,” Buxton added. ESPN F1 also confirmed the news in a tweet. However, Variety has confirmed that Pitt will not be racing against other drivers on the track, and the race car he drives will most likely be a modified version of a junior F2 or F3 car.

During an investor Q&A in April (via Sports Illustrated), F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the film will be “quite invasive in terms of production. It’s something that we need to control, in a way, but it will be another way of showing that Formula 1 never stops.” Apple Studios did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.

Buxton also shared that the race car being used in the film was designed by Mercedes, and Hamilton is “advising on storyline and script to ensure it’s the most accurate racing film ever made.”

According to the film’s official logline, Pitt plays “a driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie driver against the titans of the sport.” Damson Idris is co-starring, and “Top Gun: Maverick” co-writer Ehren Kruger is penning the screenplay. Producers include Hamilton, Kosinski, Bruckheimer and Chad Oman of Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment. Copper CEO Penni Thow serves as executive producer.

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