Brad Pitt’s car racing movie zooming to theaters soon. It was partially shot in Florida
Car racing fans got a taste of what will surely be a blockbuster hit when the trailer for “F1” dropped a couple of months back.
On Tuesday, a few lucky folks were treated to an even bigger glimpse of the action flick starring Brad Pitt, about a Formula 1 driver who comes out of retirement to mentor a rookie (Damson Idris).
Director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer (both of “Top Gun” fame) premiered the first 10 minutes of the highly anticipated movie at CinemaCon, the conference for theater owners and studios, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
“We believe this is going to be the cinematic experience of the summer,” Bruckheimer told the crowd.
Floridians may have already taken note that Pitt was in their state working on this Apple Original project when it was still titled “Apex” in early 2024. Many scenes were filmed at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach.
But one of the opening scenes that premiered at CinemaCon reportedly featured Pitt doing a very mundane, off the track thing: cleaning his clothes at Christina’s Coin Laundry, in nearby New Smyrna Beach. There, his washed-up character meets up with a team owner played by Javier Bardem, who coaxes him back to the sport for a chance at redemption.
Tuesday’s sneak peek, of course, also displayed Pitt’s driving skills. Word on the street is that the Oscar winner, 61, actually did his own stunts, and reached speeds of up to 180 mph.
“Brad had a lot of just natural ability right from the start,” said Kosinski during a separate press event last month. “I don’t know where he got that or if he was born with it, and he rides motorcycles, which I think has something to do with it ... he’s just a very talented, naturally gifted driver.”
The movie hits theaters June 25.
