Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 movie is set to be one of the most expensive ever made: why does it have such a high budget?
Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 movie is already one of the most expensive ever made. Announced in 2021, with Joseph Kosinski directing, the story follows that of a veteran F1 driver who returns to the track to mentor a young promise from the Apex team (fictional name).
In addition to Pitt, the cast also includes: Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Javier Bardem, and Sarah Niles. Produced by Apple, the film also has the support of Lewis Hamilton, who is among the producers.
According to a report released by Puck, Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 movie has exceeded the $300 million budget mark. There are two reasons behind this astronomical figure. The filming of the Hollywood production began in July 2023, before the start of the screenwriters’ strike. Brad Pitt and his crew had already shot several scenes during the Silverstone Grand Prix. When the strike erupted on a large scale, involving actors who were also union members, the star halted production. The months-long hiatus caused a subsequent delay in production.
The other reason behind the high budget lies in the use of real people in action scenes. This means that actors, including Brad Pitt, have to undergo rigorous training. The production therefore needs to employ additional safety systems (mandatory by protocol).
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With such a high budget, the film will need to have a substantial economic return. In other words, Apex (the tentative title of the film) must be a box office success. The film must earn at least $600 million, preferably $750-900 million. Reaching the billion-dollar mark at the box office is extremely rare in the Hollywood industry, and only around fifty films have achieved it.
Can a Formula 1 movie be so successful at the box office? Apparently, Apple has a lot of faith in Brad Pitt’s work, who is one of the top-tier stars in cinema. The film will heavily rely on the American audience, where F1 has gained increasing popularity in recent years, thanks to Netflix’s docuseries Drive to Survive. In addition to theatrical release, Apex will be distributed on the Apple TV+ platform.
Source: f1ingenerale
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