Hamilton to produce F1 blockbuster

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton to produce F1 blockbuster

Brad Pitt will star in a Lewis Hamilton produced blockbuster as F1 takes to the big screen

Sam Hall

Wednesday 8 June 2022 11:35 Updated: 12:29

Apple has confirmed a deal to acquire Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski's F1 film with Lewis Hamilton confirmed as a producer.

The seven-time champion has been named as one of the talents that will helm the F1 feature film starring Oscar winner Brad Pitt.

The 2020 best supporting actor will play a veteran driver "who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie driver against the titans of the sport."

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Hamilton will produce the film alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman of Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Kosinski and Plan B Entertainment.

Copper CEO Penni Thow will serve as executive producer.

To land the project, Apple saw off competition from rival studios Paramount, MGM, Sony, Universal, Disney, Netflix and Amazon.

F1 on the big screen

There has been no shortage of F1 films in recent years although most have come in the form of documentaries with Schumacher, Williams, McLaren and Senna in the recent past.

The 2013 action biographical film 'Rush' that recounted the dramatic events of the 1976 title battle between James Hunt [Chris Hemsworth] and Niki Lauda [Daniel Brühl] and makes for must-see viewing for fans.

Away from films that recount F1 years of old, numerous drivers have voiced characters in other franchises, with Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher all featuring in the Cars films.

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will also add to this number when the Toy Story spin-off 'Lightyear' is released in cinemas this year, with the pair voicing the same character in the Spanish and Italian releases of the film.