More details have emerged regarding Brad Pitt‘s Formula 1 feature film, Apex, which is currently filming at the British Grand Prix on Silverstone Circuit in England.

After months of preparation, the new Apple Original Film in collaboration with F1, kicked off shooting on the track unveiling more key details of what to expect from the new film.

The Cast
The 59-year-old Brad Pitt will star as a retired Formula 1 racer named Sonny Hayes who makes a comeback to mentor and race alongside his young teammate, Joshua Pearce played by Snowfall‘s Damson Idris . The fictional characters will race for a fictional team called APXGP which recently showed off the car’s livery at Silverstone.

The film sports a star-studded cast including Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski along with Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman as producers. Also attached to the film is 7 time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton through his own Dawn Apollo Films production company. It’s expected that Lewis will help with the authenticity of the film which will be an interesting pairing with Kosinski’s successful capturing of high speed aerial pursuits like we saw in ‘Maverick’.

Alongside Pitt and Idris, the film will also feature real Formula 1 drivers. Photos shared on the official F1 Instagram shows Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in the shots for the film.

The Car
Pitt is reported to actually drive a real racecar. The actor, in addition to professional stunt drivers, will drive on the actual track in a modified Formula 2 race car (a tad slower than a real F1 car) where they will later add CGI cars to simulate an actual race.

It is almost fitting that the filming has begun on Silverstone – the legendary circuit that held the first ever Formula 1 race in 1950.

What Formula 1 Drivers Are Saying
The film has been given tons of support from the Formula 1 drivers even some sneaking in a selfie or two with Brad.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc remarked, “it’s fun, it’s a new face and definitely quite unexpected to see Brad in the drivers’ briefing.”

French driver Pierre Gasly also shared his excitement for the film and his impressions of Pitt. “I must say it’s not every day you get the chance to see Brad Pitt,” said the team Alpine F1 driver. “We got the chance to meet him and they introduced themselves and the movie. It was definitely a special moment.”

While some drivers were excited with the touch of Hollywood, some drivers were still focused on the task at hand – to simply compete for the official race at Silverstone.

World champion Max Verstappen shared how the film will be using onboard cameras. But with an actual race at hand the highly competitive driver remarked “I completely can’t be bothered with this. In the end, a film is always made to create a little bit of a show in it. Because yes, of course, it won’t all be real. But I think it’s all fine. I’m actually not that much into it.”

Max went on to win the British Grand Prix that weekend alongside British drivers Lando Norris (2nd) and Lewis Hamilton (3rd).

Release Date
The film is being speculated to be released in late 2024 or early 2025. Currently the film is expected to have a theatrical release before heading to Apple TV+.

Also be sure to check out all the celebrities (some will surprise you) in attendance at this year’s F1 British Grand Prix.