Advertisement
If Tom Cruise had starred in the upcoming racing film F1, things would’ve been a lot more intense behind the scenes — maybe even nerve-wracking — according to the film’s director Joseph Kosinski.
In a recent GQ interview, Kosinski explained that while both Cruise and Brad Pitt are naturally talented drivers, Cruise’s high-octane approach to action scenes would have dramatically changed the feel of the production. “Tom always pushes it to the limit,” Kosinski said, noting that although Cruise is highly skilled, his daredevil style adds pressure to everyone around him.
The idea of Cruise leading F1 came up back when Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer were finishing Top Gun: Maverick, which ended up being a global hit with $1.4 billion at the box office. But Cruise didn’t take the role — and that may have spared the crew some serious stress.
Even though Cruise didn’t sign on, many people working on F1 had been part of Mission: Impossible productions with him. They knew exactly what kind of intense action Cruise brings. Graham Kelly, the film’s action-vehicle supervisor, joked that if Cruise had joined F1, “we’d have had a crash.”
“Tom pushes it to the limit. That terrifies me,” Kelly said. “I’ve worked on so many Mission: Impossibles, and building stunt cars for him is one of the most stressful jobs ever.”
In contrast, Brad Pitt brought a more measured approach. Kelly praised Pitt for knowing his boundaries and listening to the crew. “Brad knows what he can and can’t do. He’s the kind of guy who would tell you if something’s outside his skillset.”
Interestingly, Kosinski originally tried to get a similar racing film off the ground with both Cruise and Pitt several years ago — but that project got shelved due to its large budget. That concept eventually became Ford v Ferrari, directed by James Mangold and starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon.
Now, Pitt is gearing up for the spotlight with F1, which hits theaters June 27. Meanwhile, Cruise is currently enjoying the success of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which opened with an impressive $200 million worldwide.
So while F1 may not have the breakneck chaos of a Tom Cruise stunt fest, the filmmakers are confident Pitt will deliver something exciting — with a little less risk behind the wheel.