HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Tom Cruise vs. Brad Pitt in F1: Director Explains Why Only One Could Lead the Race! Fri May 30th, 2025

The buzz around the upcoming Formula 1 movie, starring Brad Pitt, has been immense, especially with director Joseph Kosinski (of Top Gun: Maverick fame) at the helm. However, a recent revelation from Kosinski and his crew has shed light on why another Hollywood action icon, Tom Cruise, wasn't cast in the high-octane racing drama, despite his penchant for performing death-defying stunts. The candid comments suggest that with Cruise in the driver's seat, the production might have faced literal "crashes."

The question arose during a recent interview with a famous tabloid, which asked Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer about the choice of Brad Pitt for the lead role in the F1 film, developed shortly after their massive success with Top Gun: Maverick. While both Cruise and Pitt possess a natural talent for driving, the director and his action-vehicle supervisor revealed a crucial difference in their approach to on-screen peril.

The Thrill Seeker vs. The Calculated Risk-Taker

"Tom always pushes it to the limit, but at the same time is super capable and very skilled," Kosinski stated, acknowledging Cruise's undeniable prowess. "They both have the natural talent for driving. But yeah, I could see Tom maybe scaring us a little bit more."

This sentiment was echoed with even more emphasis by Graham Kelly, the action-vehicle supervisor who has worked extensively with Cruise on various Mission: Impossible films. Kelly's experience with Cruise's relentless pursuit of authenticity in stunts led him to a stark conclusion regarding the F1 movie.

"We'd have had a crash," Kelly quipped, highlighting the inherent risks. "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."

In contrast, Kelly praised Brad Pitt's approach: "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 insight suggests that while both actors are committed to realism, Pitt's self-awareness and willingness to defer to expert judgment make him a safer bet for a production involving high-speed racing.

A Past Partnership That Almost Was

Interestingly, this isn't the first time Tom Cruise and Pitt were considered for a racing film under Kosinski's direction. Before Top Gun: Maverick, Kosinski was developing his own version of Ford v Ferrari, with both actors attached and eager to do their own driving. However, that project eventually stalled due to budget constraints, with James Mangold later directing the critically acclaimed film starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon.

For the upcoming F1 movie, Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a former Formula One superstar who makes a comeback. The film's ensemble cast also includes Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, and Javier Bardem. F1 champion Lewis Hamilton has also been instrumental in the film's development, providing valuable insights into the world of professional racing.

While Tom Cruise continues to push boundaries in his Mission: Impossible franchise (with Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning recently setting new box office records for the actor), the F1 movie seems to have found its perfect leading man in Brad Pitt, ensuring an exhilarating yet controlled cinematic experience for audiences when it hits theatres on June 27. The behind-the-scenes comments offer a fascinating glimpse into the delicate balance between actor ambition and production safety in the world of high-stakes filmmaking.

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