In the highly anticipated F1 film directed by Joseph Kosinski and featuring Brad Pitt, comparisons have been made to the exhilarating Top Gun: Maverick — but what if the legendary Tom Cruise had taken the lead role instead? This intriguing scenario opens up a fascinating discussion about the dynamics of high-speed racing and action filmmaking.
During a recent interview with GQ, Kosinski was posed this very question. He remarked, “Tom always pushes it to the limit, but at the same time is super capable and very skilled.” He further added, “They both have the natural talent for driving. But yeah, I could see Tom maybe scaring us a little bit more.” This highlights the unique qualities Cruise brings to the table, which could drastically alter the film’s intense energy.
Graham Kelly, who serves as the action-vehicle supervisor for F1, elaborated on the potential impact of Cruise’s involvement. “We’d have had a crash,” he commented, emphasizing Cruise’s relentless pursuit of perfection in stunts. “Tom pushes it to the limit. I mean really to the limit. That terrifies me. I mean, I’ve done loads of Mission: Impossibles with Tom and it’s the most stressful experience for someone like me building cars for him, doing stunts with him. Whereas Brad listens and he knows his abilities, and I think he’d be the first to say, ‘Yeah, I’m not going to do that.’” This contrast between the two actors underscores the different approaches they take to their craft, especially in high-stakes situations.
Interestingly, Kosinski had once envisioned his own interpretation of Ford v Ferrari, intending to cast both Cruise and Pitt in leading roles. Both actors were eager to perform their own driving scenes, showcasing their commitment to authenticity. However, the project faced delays due to Kosinski’s ambitious budget, which the studio found to be too high. Ultimately, director James Mangold took over, resulting in the version featuring Christian Bale and Matt Damon, which has received critical acclaim.
In addition, Cruise is reportedly contemplating a sequel to the iconic racing film Days of Thunder. This presents an exciting opportunity for him to once again explore the thrilling world of racing while possibly giving Graham Kelly another adrenaline-fueled experience on set.
The official synopsis for the upcoming F1 movie reads: “Dubbed ‘the greatest that never was,’ Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition—and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.” This thrilling narrative will be available for audiences in theaters starting on June 27.
