Brad Pitt reveals why a Ford v Ferrari movie with Tom Cruise never happened

In an exciting revelation, Brad Pitt has shared the fascinating story behind why he and Tom Cruise stepped away from starring in Ford v Ferrari. The high-octane racing drama was initially developed as Go Like Hell by director Joseph Kosinski, drawing inspiration from A.J. Baime’s thrilling 2009 book subtitled Ford, Ferrari, and their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans.

While Pitt and Cruise were originally set to headline this epic tale, the project hit an unexpected turn in its development journey. The reason? The Top Gun: Maverick star had an interesting realization about his character’s role.

European Premiere Of 'F1 The Movie’ — Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt at the European Premiere of ‘F1 The Movie’ at Cineworld, Leicester Square in London on June 23, 2025. Photo Credit: CelebrityPhotosUK/Cover Images

During a candid conversation with The National, Pitt enthusiastically expressed his desire to work again with his Interview with the Vampire co-star, despite their previous project not materializing. He shared an amusing insight into why Ford v Ferrari didn’t come together – a reason that perfectly captures Cruise’s passionate commitment to action. It turns out that when Cruise realized his character wouldn’t be behind the wheel much, he decided to pump the brakes on the project. Pitt explained it with a smile:

Tom and I, for a while there, were on Ford v Ferrari with Joe [to direct]. This was about 10 years before the guys who actually made it — and made it a great movie. What it came down to is that we both wanted to drive, and he wanted to play Shelby, and I wanted to play Ken Miles. And when Tom realized that Carroll Shelby would not be driving much in the movie, it didn’t come through.
Brad Pitt

Another fascinating aspect of why Kosinski’s version of Ford v Ferrari didn’t accelerate to production was the ambitious budget requirements. The proposed costs, including the star-powered salaries and elaborate production needs, were deemed too substantial by the studio. However, this opened the door for James Mangold to take the director’s seat, crafting the critically acclaimed version that thrilled audiences in 2019.

The stellar performances of Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale as Ken Miles helped the film race to impressive box office success, earning over $225 million worldwide against a $97 million budget.

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt Celebrities attend the European Premiere of ‘F1 The Movie’ at Cineworld, Leicester Square — Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt at the European Premiere of ‘F1 The Movie’ at Cineworld, Leicester Square in London on June 23, 2025. Photo Credit: CelebrityPhotosUK/Cover Images

Currently, fans can catch Pitt burning rubber in Kosinski’s exhilarating Formula One film F1, which has already proven to be a box office champion. The film accelerated to the top position in its opening weekend, impressively collecting $57 million from theaters in the US and Canada and $146 million worldwide.

The tremendous success has Apple already exploring the possibility of a sequel, though nothing has been officially announced. When asked about these exciting prospects, Pitt enthusiastically shared that he “would want to drive again, selfishly speaking,” even though his character Sonny Hayes is headed in a different direction.

The focus of any potential F1 sequel would naturally center on Joshua Pierce — brilliantly portrayed by Damson Idris — and his team’s thrilling pursuit of championship glory. As for fan-favorite Sonny? Well, he’s probably living his best life, setting incredible speed records out on the Bonneville Salt Flats! While the exact plot details are still under wraps, one thing’s crystal clear – the magic of this kind of cinema lies in its incredible ability to bring people together in shared excitement.

The future of F1 holds endless thrilling possibilities! We might see the story pick up right where we left off, or perhaps dive deep into the fascinating backstories of our beloved racing drivers in an action-packed prequel. There’s even buzz about an epic crossover between F1 and Cruise’s beloved ’90s racing classic, Days of Thunder.

Kosinski, who’s worked magic with both Pitt and Cruise, recently pitched an exciting idea: What if Pitt’s Sonny Hayes and Cruise’s Cole Trickle share a mysterious past and reunite for an epic “head-to-head on the track” showdown? The big question remains – would Pitt be game for such an incredible adventure?

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