Brad Pitt has appeared in some very impressive films over the course of his illustrious career. From Fight Club and Ocean’s Eleven to Mr and Mrs Smith and Ad Astrahe has tried a plethora of companies from a creative point of view. Now it seems he’s taking on his biggest filmmaking challenge yet. Pitt teamed up with Joseph Kosinski for a new Apple TV+/Warner Bros. movie called F1which is centered around the world of Formula 1 racing. The first trailer for the film just arrived and, unsurprisingly, it hints at plenty of high-octane racing sequences. I’m liking what I’m seeing so far, and what really gets me is that the movie is giving it its all Top Gun: Maverick vibes.
OK, so the latter point should be obvious, given that Joseph Kosinski is the man who directed Top Gun continuation. But I was just expecting to get hints and flashes of that box office hit in this new racing movie. Based on the film that has been released, the entire aesthetic of the film and way of hyping the viewers for what is to come really matches the style of Top Gun continuation. Set to Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” this trailer will do just that and more.
Why does the F1 trailer give me the same feelings I had when I saw Top Gun: Maverick?
The first big element that really stands out to me is the practicality of filmmaking. What was so great about Joseph Kosinski’s 2022 sequel is that he and his collaborators went all out to make the stunts feel as real as possible. That included actually having the cast in the cockpits of fighter jets and making it look like they were flying them. This movie for F1 shows Brad Pitt suited up and in the driver’s seat, and the camera gets up close and personal like it did with Tom Cruise in his own movie. The main reason Cruise wanted to make the movie was so he could get rid of as much CGI as possible. Not only was he successful in that endeavor, but he managed to deliver an amazing cinematic experience in the process.
One would think that It was once upon a time in Hollywood alum wanted to get hands-on for his Formula 1 racing film, too. At least that’s the impression you get from the racing scenes in the trailer. While we’re dealing with different types of vehicles here, I’d say the sequences are comparable to the airplane scenes in Maverickfrom a realistic point of view. That’s exciting enough, but when you remember the fact that this new movie was also shot using IMAX cameras, it makes it even more of a draw.
But, acting aside, the actual story seems to resonate Top Gun also. Brad Pitt, who got into hot water with racing fans in 2022 for a little clue, stars veteran racer Sonny Hayes – who seems to like going against the grain. That’s also the case when it comes to Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. In addition, Hayes forms a relationship of sorts with the younger driver Joshua Pearce, who may have shades of Miles Tellers Rooster. The young pilot naturally had a surrogate father figure in Maverick. Overall, it seems that one of the core aspects of the upcoming film will be the relationship between these two riders. And I’m good at that.
What is F1 about and who else plays in it?
F1 tells the story of Sonny Hayes, who – after finding success in the 90s, was forced to retire from racing after a serious accident. But he is eventually lured back into the world of racing by his friend, a Formula 1 team owner, who convinces him to mentor young Joshua Pearce. In addition to Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, the film features Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies and Javier Bardem. Even real racers like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will also appear in the film, which has Maverick co-author Ehren Kruger attached as its sole writer. And veteran producer Jerry Bruckheimer is on board, too.
I was already looking forward to this movie but after seeing this first trailer I am ecstatic. Hopefully the finished production manages to live up to the awesomeness of this first tease. But with Brad Pitt, Joseph Kosinski, and so many other talented creators attached, there’s reason to hope that this movie will win first place (with critics and moviegoers).
F1 is set for theatrical release on June 27 as part of the 2025 movie scheduleand it will certainly be available for Apple TV+ subscribers sometime. In the meantime, anyone who wants to relive the magic of Top Gun: Maverick can do so by streaming the movie with a Paramount+ subscription.
