Part of the success of Joseph Kosinski’sTop Gun: Maverickwas the authenticity of its action sequences. Unlike many of the other blockbusters of 2022, Kosinski’s film didn’t rely on CGI to amplify some of the high-stakes action scenes and relied on what the camera could capture on its own. Kosinski hopes to receive a similar reception with his upcomingFormula Onefilm, which he says will utilize a similar style of action.
Kosinski will direct a Formula One film that has already been revealed to star Academy Award winner Brad Pitt. He will construct the film with a number of members of hisTop Gun: Maverickteam, including writer Ehren Kruger, who wrote the script forthe Formula One film, andTop Gun: Maverickproducers Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman. Joining the behind-the-scenes cast of Kosinski’s film is current Formula One driver and seven-time Formula One World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton. Pitt’s Plan B production studio will also work on the film.
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Kosinski has had a massive year with cinema in 2022, especially afterTop Gun: Maverickbecame the highest-grossing film of 2022. In earning the accolade, the Kosinski-directed sequel surpassed Marvel Studios’Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessand DC’sThe Batman. The Kosinski-directedTop Gunsequel has earned a lot of praise, partly because of its authentic action sequences. “Certainly seeing people react to an in-camera, authentically captured film likeTop Gunmakes us all feel good that our approach works and is appreciated by audiences,” Kosinski said to The Wrap. For Kosinski’s upcoming action-packedFormula Oneproject, he promises a similar approach to constructing the film.
“It’s almost funny to me to see people who are so enamored with real photography,” Kosinski said. “Younger people almost haven’t seen a lot of it.They’re so used to CGI being a toolof big movies that when you shoot something for real, it feels innovative.” For theFormula Onefilm, Kosinski says that he plans to enact a similar approach to capture the action for the film. He intends to shoot footage at the Formula One races with the actual cars and use the footage for the film. “It’s going to be a huge challenge but an exciting one for me,” Kosinski said.
After scoring a deal with Apple, Kosinski has revealed that the upcomingFormula Onefilm will have a global platformed release prior tolanding on the Apple TV Plus streaming platform. “We’ve got an interesting distribution plan that includes a guaranteed worldwide large-format theatrical experience that then rolls into an exclusive streaming arrangement with Apple TV+,” Kosinski said. “It’s a hybrid model which maybe is the way that streaming and theaters can coexist for the right stories.”
Kosinski’s plans for theFormula Oneproject aren’t in response to the success ofTop Gun: Maverick. Kosinski revealed that it was sold in December and the plans for theFormula Onefilm began roughly six months ago, while deals have been in the works for at least five. The film will star Pittas a Formula One driverwho comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie to challenge the other teams within the sport. Kosinski’s upcoming film may borrow some strategy from the Netflix docuseries,Formula 1: Drive to Survive, which documents the racing season and gives background to some of the grid’s drivers.
