Brad Pitt Wanted to Make a Racing Movie ‘for Literally Decades’ Before ‘Insane Idea’ F1 Came Along

Brad Pitt has been revved up and ready to go well before starring in F1. The actor, 61, discussed the upcoming film on Tuesday, June 10, during a global press conference in Mexico City, including how a racing film has been on his mind for some time.

“For me, it was just a no-brainer when [Joseph Kosinski] had this audacious plan to embed us in the racing season, to put us actually in the cars. It was just a dream come true,” Pitt said of starring in the sports drama.

“I’ve been trying to do a racing film for literally decades,” Pitt continued. “And whether it was on bikes or whether it was in cars, for whatever reason, it just didn’t pan out. I’m so grateful because the experience Joe gave us, putting us in the car, putting us in this ecosystem of the F1 racing season, with all the drivers, with the teams, was just an extraordinary experience.”

While having starred in several action-packed films — from assassin drama Mr. and Mrs. Smith to the historical epic Troy — Pitt admitted getting behind the wheel for F1 was “nothing like I’ve ever experienced in all my decades doing this.”

Pitt’s passion for both racing and the Formula One drama itself made an impression on his costar Damson Idris.

While speaking with PEOPLE about his fine jewelry line Didris, the British actor, 33, said the mentor-mentee-type relationship his character builds with Pitt’s Formula 1 racer is “exactly the same” as the friendship they developed while making the film.

“It was a seamless dynamic between us. As soon as they’d yell, ‘Cut,’ we both sat at our seats and giggled,” Idris recalls. “He’d be telling me stories of when he first met Prince and Sidney Poitier. And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is just too iconic, you’re a walking monument.'”

“I always say he’s the most humble person and such a brilliant actor, and he wants you to win,” Idris added of working with Pitt. “And he did that for me the entire movie, made a point of having the two characters be equals, so I’m incredibly indebted to him and I can’t wait for people to see it.”

Javier Bardem and Brad Pitt in ‘F1’.

Apple Original Films

Directed by Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the team behind 2022 hit Top Gun: Maverick, F1 was filmed in collaboration with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is among the producers of the Ehren Kruger-written film.

The film follows Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a former driver making a comeback to the sport. Teaming up with rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), Hayes navigates the challenges of racing and mentorship within the fictional APXGP team.

The film also stars Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon and Tobias Menzies.

F1, from Apple Original Films, is in theaters June 27.

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