Why Brad Pitt Beat Tom Cruise for the F1 Movie Role!

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Summary

  • Joseph Kosinski and crew chose Brad Pitt over Tom Cruise for F1 due to Cruise’s risky stunts and safety concerns on set.
  • Pitt is praised for his dedication to training and has been hailed as an amazing driver by producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
  • Kosinski almost had both Pitt and Cruise together in a film before – a missed opportunity due to budget disagreements.

As a cinephile, I’ve got to share an interesting tidbit about the upcoming movie project that I’m closely following – F1. Unlike some might think, it wasn’t Joseph Kosinski or the creative team who picked Tom Cruise for the lead role. Instead, they opted to work with Brad Pitt. There’s a particular reason behind this decision that I find intriguing.

The upcoming movie titled F1 is a sports drama that delves into the thrilling realm of Formula 1 racing, produced by Apple Original Films, Monolith Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Plan B Entertainment, and Dawn Apollo Films. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, who has previously worked with Tom Cruise on Top Gun: Maverick, the film boasts an impressive cast including Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, and Kerry Condon. However, due to Kosinski’s past collaboration with Cruise, many are curious as to why Cruise wasn’t selected to lead F1.

During an interview with GQ, director Joseph Kosinski shared his reasons for choosing Brad Pitt over Tom Cruise for the film ‘F1’. The project was in development alongside the post-production of the hit movie ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, where both Pitt and Cruise were considered due to their innate ability behind the wheel. However, Kosinski felt more comfortable working with Pitt as they believed Cruise’s risk-taking approach could potentially compromise safety during filming. As Kosinski expressed to GQ, “Both Pitt and Cruise had the talent for driving, but I found Cruise to be a bit too intimidating, as his daredevil nature might have posed safety risks during production.

Tom consistently operates at his maximum potential, yet he’s incredibly gifted and proficient. Both share a knack for driving that comes naturally to them. However, Tom might instill a sense of apprehension in us a tad more.

Going With Brad Pitt Over Tom Cruise Seems To Be A Safer Bet, At Least When It Comes To Manageable Stunt Work

Tom Cruise consistently pushes the boundaries of action stunts, as evident in his daring feats for the Mission: Impossible series. For example, he scaled the Burj Khalifa for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), suspended from an Airbus A400M and held his breath for six minutes during an underwater scene in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), executed a High-Altitude Low-Opening (HALO) jump from 25,000 feet for Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), and rode a motorcycle off a cliff for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023). In the latest Mission: Impossible film, Cruise performs another death-defying stunt by hanging from the wings of a 1940s biplane. As a child, he had dreamed of doing this after watching a wing-walking clip. However, during filming, he experienced a shocking revelation — it nearly stole his breath away. The aircraft supposedly reached speeds over 120 miles per hour, making it difficult for him to get enough oxygen. He confessed that he prepared himself to breathe in such an environment, but the challenge was so immense that he fainted several times and found it hard to return to the cockpit.

Kosinski opted for Brad Pitt over Tom Cruise in the film ‘F1’, as the latter often pushes boundaries which could lead to risky conditions on set. In contrast, Pitt reportedly endured a rigorous five-month training program for the F1 car and was praised by producer Bruckheimer as an “amazing driver.” Some F1 drivers even considered Pitt a ‘natural athlete’. However, it seems ideal if both Pitt and Cruise appeared in a single film. Kosinski almost cast the pair in his 2019 version of ‘Ford v Ferrari’, but the project was abandoned due to budget constraints involving two highly sought-after Hollywood stars.

F1 will hit theaters on June 25, 2025.

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2025-05-31 21:25