F1 Rumour: Lewis Hamilton Project Hits Roadblock As Brad Pitt Partnership - UPDATED
UPDATE - A spokesperson from Formula 1 has confirmed that these rumours are untrue.
- The movie is still on schedule for its original 2025 release and timeframe.
- All footage captured this year is relevant.
- The movie will continue shooting at Grands Prix in 2024, with Brad and Damson driving actual cars on track for racing sequences.
- The movie will ensure continuity with the 2023 F1 season in footage captured in 2024.
- There are no changes to any movie sponsors, and all are committed for the duration of the project.
- The production has been adapting its schedule before and during the SAG strike and has planned to shoot into 2024 for some time.
Original Article
Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamitlon's much-anticipated F1 movie has hit a major roadblock, requiring extensive reshoots due to changed sponsorship deals following a Hollywood strike. This unexpected turn of events is set to significantly inflate the project's costs.
Key Takeaways:
- Major Reshoots Necessary: The film, a collaboration between Brad Pitt and F1 star Lewis Hamilton, faces a setback due to changes in sponsorship agreements following the Hollywood strike. This change means much of the already shot footage is now unusable.
- Impact of Hollywood Strike: The strike in Hollywood, demanding better pay and less dependence on streaming numbers, along with a curb on artificial intelligence usage, has indirectly led to these reshoots.
- Cost Implications and Delays: The reshoots, including scenes with a special F2 car at Silverstone, will cost tens of millions of euros. The close of the F1 season adds to the challenge, further delaying the film's completion.
Mercedes Press Image
The ambitious project, a joint venture between Hollywood icon Brad Pitt and Mercedes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, has been forced to halt and reset. Initially aimed at capturing the essence of Formula 1 racing, the film has faced unforeseen hurdles due to recent industry-wide strikes and associated drama.
In Hollywood this year, a significant strike by film writers and actors called for better compensation and a restructured salary system less reliant on streaming metrics. A notable demand was the reduced use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. These industry shifts have had a ripple effect, impacting the structure of the F1 movie's sponsorships.
The financial implications are substantial. The film's team must discard footage worth tens of millions of euros, including intricate scenes filmed at the iconic Silverstone circuit. The film's production coinciding with the nearing end of the Formula 1 season complicates the situation further, leading to additional delays.
Describing the situation as "a nightmare," a source close to the project told The Sun:
"It really is a nightmare for Brad and the team. A lot of events had been earmarked for filming throughout the year, which would have helped reduce costs rather than having to recreate high-speed moments and wide shots.
"However, with all the sponsors changing, it now makes the footage defunct. It’s gutting for Brad and Lewis, who see this project as their baby."
This setback represents a significant challenge for the film's team, tasked with navigating these complex changes while maintaining the project's integrity and vision.