It’s lights out and away we go, almost… as we are one step closer to watching Brad Pitt’s hotly-anticipated F1 blockbuster.
The film, aptly titled ‘F1’, will feature famous Irish faces such as Tipperary actress Kerry Condon and Bono’s daughter Eve Hewson but has been hit by several delays.
Now though things are looking up as it’s got a release date which isn’t too far off in the grand scheme of Hollywood.
Movie bosses have confirmed that the film will be released on June 25, 2025 which is longer than we’d like to wait to watch it but better than some of the wait times we’re expecting at the moment (cough, Bridgerton season four).
The movie is being co-produced by seven-time world champion driver Lewis Hamilton to ensure authenticity and it has been reported that F1 chiefs hope that the film will garner as much success as Netflix’s Drive to Survive series.
The Hollywood star will play the role of Sonny Hayes, a retired driver who returns to racing. British actor Damson Idris will star alongside 60-year-old Brad, playing Joshua Pierce.
The pair raced adapted Formula Two cars between practice sessions at a sold-out British Grand Prix in July 2023 in anticipation for the movie. Filming was pushed back due to the US actors’ and writers’ strike, but the wait is almost over.
Kerry Condon will also star in the blockbuster. The Thurles native is set to play the team’s technical director, who oversees the design and development of the sophisticated race car. The 41-year-old actress recently starred in the Disney+ series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, alongside Jude Law.
Adding to the Irish talent in the film is Bono’s daughter Eve Hewson. The 32-year-old revealed that she will have a small role in the movie while appearing on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The star was spotted chatting with the A-lister at the Grand Prix in Austin in 2022.
She told the US host that she told her manager to call up Brad and tell him that how badly she wanted to appear in the film. ‘I will have one line, I will be in the pit crew. I will do whatever you want but I’ve got to be in this film,’ she joked.
The film has a whopping budget of around €130.4m, with Apple buying the rights. With the men responsible for Top Gun: Maverick behind the production, directed by Joseph Kosinski and partially produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, we can anticipate great results.
In a statement, F1 said: ‘The movie is a landmark for the sport and cinema, filmed in real-time during grands prix around the world and involving the Formula One community, including all 10 teams, the drivers, the FIA and race promoters.’
Brad spoke about the exciting new film to Sky Sports, revealing: ‘Lewis was really intent that we respect the sport and show it for what it is. I had no idea what it takes to be a driver. They are amazing athletes and I have got so much respect for all of them.’
First look trailer
Fans thirsting after a first look at the action are in luck as the first trailer dropped just ahead of the St. Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday weekend.
It starts out in dramatic fashion with team owner of APXGP Ruben Cervantes, played by Javier Bardem, describing how ‘some people see Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) as a guy who lives in a van, a gambling junkie who missed his shot the best that never was… but I see possibility.’
Next, it cuts to Sonny sparing with Damson Idris (Joshua Pearce) as they are paired off with one another. The resentment builds as they grudgingly acknowledge each other’s talent and leads to one scene where Kerry Condon’s character Kate acts as mediator.
The first look clip winds down in spectacular style teasing crashes, life struggles and a whole lot of F1.
We can’t wait to see this action-packed movie come to life!
