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30 Years in Making, Adam Driver Starrer Ferrari Movie Was Once Rejected by Robert De Niro and Christian Bale

Published 09/07/2023, 4:00 AM EDT

Recall how Brad Pitt’s latest F1 movie has been facing hurdles due to the actor’s strike. Well, it’s nothing when compared to the upcoming Adam Driver movie based on the Automobile Legend, Enzo Ferrari. And yes, the movie is named Ferrari. But did you know that the movie has been 30 years into the making? Amongst one of the many hurdles was finding an actor to play the protagonist, as Robert De Niro and Christian Bale rejected the movie. But why?

Michael Mann’s Ferrari will be hitting the theaters at the end of the year. The movie is based on the book Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Race, The Machines which was released in 1991. Michael Mann has been working on the project since the early 1990s. The movie will set scenes in the late 1950s, a time when Ferrari was on the verge of bankruptcy, and will revolve around what Enzo Ferrari did to save Ferrari and the challenges faced.

But why did it take 30 years? Michael Mann is believed to have started the development of the movie in 1993 with Robert De Niro in the lead role. However, sources suggest that De Niro wished for a Ferrari movie that focused less on Enzo Ferrari and was more likely to capture the time and place. Hence, the project was put on hold as Robert De Niro eventually backed down from the project.

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Many years later, in 2015, Christian Bale signed to star as the movie’s protagonist. But would eventually back out within months. This was due to the health concern posed by the movie. To play the character, a significant weight gain and loss for various roles was required of The Dark Knight actor. Not ready to make that sacrifice, Bale quit the project less than 6 months into it.

It wasn’t until the middle of last year that the production of the movie would actually start with the current protagonist, Adam Driver. Finding someone to play the role of Enzo Ferrari and portray it well doesn’t seem to be an easy job. However, Adam Driver, who already worked in the House of Gucci, brilliantly played the role of an Italian businessman in that movie, hence casting him for this role made a lot of sense.

$140,000,000 Venture With Brad Pitt or Otherwise, Lewis Hamilton Refuses to Compromise on Elite Values

But what about the upcoming Lewis Hamilton passion project, The Brad Pitt starring F1-themed movie produced by Lewis Hamilton? When will it be released and who is directing that?

Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton’s F1 movie also faces a delay

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Production of the new F1-themed movie started earlier this year when Brad Pitt was spotted at the Silverstone GP. The movie is believed to be based in the modern F1 era, with Brad Pitt playing the role of a veteran F1 driver and Damson Idris as his young teammate. Joseph Kosinski, the same guy responsible for Top Gun Maverick, is the director of the movie.

However, the new F1 movie is facing some challenges of its own. Due to the actor’s strike, the filming of the movie has been postponed as Brad Pitt supports the cause of the strike. The postponement is likely to delay the release of the movie. However, no official announcement regarding the release date has been made yet.

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Watch this Story: Lewis Hamilton Kicks Off Mammoth $140 Million Hollywood Passion Project

What do you think? Will Micheal Mann’s Ferrari movie starring Adam Driver becomes a blockbuster hit?

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Written by:

Pranay Bhagi is an F1 writer at EssentiallySports, who has always been passionate about sports and writing. With a degree from a prestigious institute, he has channeled his enthusiasm into sports journalism, particularly F1, a sport that has captivated him for over a decade. Pranay's deep-rooted love for the sport began during the Sebastian Vettel era, and he has been following it religiously ever since.

Edited by:

Akash Pandhare

30 Years in Making, Adam Driver Starrer Ferrari Movie Was Once Rejected by Robert De Niro and Christian Bale

Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton’s F1 movie also faces a delay

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