You need only look at the numerous Fast & the Furious movies to understand that Hollywood has a thing for fast cars. Though Marvel films sporting superheroes and all manner of special effects have largely taken centre stage at the box office, it was the car movie that once reigned supreme – attracting kids in the form of Herbie: Fully Loaded, to the whole family in such films like Ford v Ferrari and Need for Speed. Now, a bidding war has erupted concerning the latest car flick that features some of the biggest names in the industry. Not surprisingly, streaming platforms are doing all they can to get their hands on it.
Though untitled, the project has Brad Pitt attached to star and is helmed by filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, the man behind the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick. Veteran megaproducer Jerry Bruckheimer is also involved in the project, alongside screenwriter Ehren Kruger who worked with Kosinski on Maverick. If all that wasn’t enough, sources also say that Lewis Hamilton, the man who has become a household name due to his incredible victories and dominance in Formula 1, is also involved with the project.
With this kind of star power, it’s no wonder a bidding war has erupted amongst the world’s biggest streaming platforms. Offers have also come from studios Paramount, MGM, Sony and Universal, while Netflix, Apple, Amazon and Disney have all put up offers of their own. As The Hollywood Reporter suggests, the plot might not be clear as of yet, but the movie is one that’s drawing attention for all the right reasons. “Pitt and Kosinski have long tried to make a racing movie,” the publication suggests. “In 2013, Pitt circled Go Like Hell, which had Kosinski attached along with Tom Cruise. That project eventually morphed into Ford v. Ferrari with a whole new actor and director combination.”
With its visual appeal, high-stakes drama and larger-than-life characters who jump off the screen, the car movie remains a staple in the box office and, in the case of 2019’s Ford v. Ferrari, can even garner award show recognition and Oscar nods. For a project where the details remain scarce, it’s clear that no one wants to let this opportunity pass by. There is a rumoured budget of US$130 million attached to the film, while Deadline simply attached this rather vague story outline: “Brad Pitt [plays] a racer who comes out of retirement to mentor a younger driver and take his final stab at glory on the track as the younger driver’s teammate.”
Regardless, we’re definitely invested in this. We’ll be sure to bring you more details as they unfold.
