Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a Formula One driver who raced in the 1990s, has a horrible crash, forcing him to retire from Formula One and start racing in other disciplines. A Formula One team owner and friend, Ruben (Javier Bardem), contacts Hayes and asks him to come out of retirement to mentor rookie prodigy Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) for the Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP).

Filmmaker Joseph Kosinski has demonstrated his talent for blending narrative and spectacle into explosive blockbuster filmmaking. Following the incredible success of Top Gun: Maverick, he is now turning his attention to the pinnacle of motorsport excellence, inviting audiences to experience the excitement of Formula One. This cinematic journey is best enjoyed on the largest screen possible, as it delivers a jaw-dropping, epic experience!

In partnership with Formula One and with the support of renowned producer Jerry Bruckheimer, eight-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, and the Mercedes Petronas F1 Team, Kosinski has gained exclusive access to the world of Formula One. He tells an inspiring underdog story about a new team striving for greatness. From the opening scene, F1 accelerates forward, maintaining a dramatic intensity and adrenaline-fueled excitement that never lets up.

With unfiltered access to the inner workings of Formula One, director Joseph Kosinski creates exhilarating racing scenes that immerse audiences in iconic racing venues. The adrenaline rush never stops. Utilizing an innovative camera system specifically developed for the film, Kosinski places viewers right in the heart of the action as Brad Pitt and Damson Idris buckle in and accelerate. The entire experience is thrilling.

F1 starts with the intensity of a rocket and continues to build, delivering an intense sports drama filled with underdog courage and determination that leads to a heart-pounding and unexpected finish. While audiences may come in expecting one type of story, Kosinski’s attention to detail and skilful handling of the film’s dramatic elements provide a more nuanced and character-driven narrative than typically found in a blockbuster of this size and scale. Viewers will be both surprised and delighted by the experience.

Stepping out onto the grid and into a race car is Academy Award-winner and Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a one-time racing prodigy who crashed and burned in the early 1990s and who has been living a rough and tumble life ever since. Sonny is not a has-been; he’s a never-was. A fast-charging young buck who was poised for greatness right out of the gate but who, after a terrible accident, was forced to abandon his dreams of Formula One superstardom and instead has fallen by the wayside to addictions and bad choices. But through all of it, the call of the track has kept him in line, and now he makes a living as a journeyman driver who will turn up for a race and a check, and now he gets one final shot for greatness behind the wheel. For Pitt, Hayes offers him the chance to bring out his natural-born Americana Cowboy charisma, and he’s effortlessly cool as this hard-charging man of action.

Brash, competitive, and driven by an intense desire to win, Hayes is the perfect character for Pitt to portray. He exudes an effortless coolness on the track. Initially introduced as a racing drifter who lives solely for the sport, the layers of Hayes’ character are gradually revealed throughout the film, showcasing a thoroughly complex and haunted individual. Pitt brings a raw honesty to Hayes, aware that this is his last chance to prove himself as a talented driver, which keeps the story engaging.

With his natural charisma and competitive edge, Hayes stands out as the coolest guy on the track. However, viewers will encounter several surprises along the way, particularly in how Pitt approaches his role on the APXGP team as Hayes. This film marks the first time we’ve seen Pitt assume a ‘mentor’ role, adding another deeper layer of interest to the character.

Paired with Pitt’s Hayes on the track is Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce, a talented young driver eager to make his mark in the racing world with APXGP. Like Pitt, Idris showcases his acting skills, making him a talent to watch. While some may view his character as merely a clone of Lewis Hamilton, this interpretation fails to capture the complexity Idris brings to the role. He portrays Pearce as a nuanced and compelling figure who presents a confident front but battles his own insecurities and demons as he navigates the cutthroat nature of the racing industry. This depth keeps the audience engaged as Pearce embarks on a transformative journey both as a driver and as an individual. His ego is challenged, and he ultimately learns the importance of trusting his team and believing in something greater than himself.

Giving F1 a hearty dose of fire is Academy Award-nominated actress Kerry Condon as Kate McKenna, APXGP’s technical director, who is responsible for giving the team an edge and represents the often-overlooked technical talent that powers the drivers on the grid. As a key figure in the team, she embodies the often-overlooked technical talent that supports the drivers on the grid. Kate is focused, sharp, clever, and savvy, determined to find an advantage that could propel the team from last place to first. Condon is entirely convincing in this role, showcasing exceptional skills in aerodynamics while also having the ability to see the bigger picture and communicate effectively with ego-driven drivers, serving as the voice of reason throughout the film. Additionally, she brings a touch of romance to the story, and the chemistry between Kate and Sonny certainly heats up and sizzles on screen.

Finally bringing everything together is Academy Award winner Javier Bardem as APXGP owner and former racer Ruben Cervantes, who presents Sonny with one last shot at greatness and turns in a scene-stealing performance. Bardem is incredibly smooth and charismatic with the natural charisma that he brings to the picture. Whenever he’s on screen, Bardem instantly grabs your attention, and as Ruben, he’s easily the best character in the whole picture. He’s the man with the plan, the vision behind APXGP, and the man who believes when no one else does, and putting his trust in Sonny, Joshua, and his team makes his play for greatness alongside all of them. Both Bardem and Pitt share an effortless chemistry together, and their on-screen bromance leads to plenty of fun moments that just add to the joy of F1.

Technically, F1 is a cinematic marvel, showcasing the impressive work of Kosinski, Bruckheimer, and their creative team, who really push the film to its limits. With specially designed cameras created by both Apple and Sony CineAlta, fitted to a modified car built in collaboration with the Mercedes-AMG F1 team and Carlin Motorsport, audiences truly feel the thrill of Formula 1 racing, getting up close and personal with the action.

The excitement on the track is palpable as Pitt and Idris tackle some of Formula One’s greatest circuits, including Silverstone, Hungaroring, and Monza. The result is a fast-paced adrenaline rush that keeps the momentum going, featuring key sequences such as the film’s opening at Daytona and the climactic race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The entire experience is wildly exhilarating, making it a must-see blockbuster for anyone seeking excitement.”

But F1 is more than just racing, and the film’s dramatic narrative is layered with complex character moments and examines themes of ego, legacy, and the power of real teamwork. While the speed hits hard, this examination of the deeper elements of the sports genre makes the F1 experience that much richer, and the film’s dramatic and sometimes shocking moments hit that much harder. Kosinski has really delivered a full picture with F1, and it delivers on the cinematic experience.

F1 takes off like a rocket and doesn’t let up for a moment. It’s fun, exciting, awesome and just a straight-up cool watch for those who love the cinema and the big screen, and it delivers the blockbuster movie experience at full speed!

Image: Warner Brothers Pictures

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Following on from its debut poster, a first-look teaser trailer has arrived and showcases the action of F1, and damn, does this look like one hell of a rush! Brad Pitt looks ultra cool as the film’s central character, Sonny Hayes, a one-time Formula 1 great and full-on burnout who gets a shot at redemption and a chance to prove himself on the track, and it’s full-on war from there.

Watch the teaser trailer below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a Formula One driver who raced in the 1990s, has a horrible crash, forcing him to retire from Formula One and start racing in other disciplines. A Formula One team owner and friend contacts Hayes and asks him to come out of retirement to mentor rookie prodigy Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) on the Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP).

This first-look footage places audiences right in action. Filmmaker Joseph Kosinski mounted 15 separate cameras to the body of the film’s cars, which were built in partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. The cars were built off the chassis of a Formula 2 car and then designed to look like F1 cars. This has allowed the driving to take place on track, with the rig capturing everything, and both Brad Pitt and Damsen Idris were trained for three months to drive in both Formula 3 and Formula 2 before hitting the track.

Alongside the authenticity of the world on the track, F1 also has a stacked cast featuring the likes of Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies and Academy Award winner Javier Bardem, who portrays the owner of the Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP). With such talent both in front of and behind the camera, you know this will be an incredible watch. Kosinski also finds his stride between the action on the track and the film’s heavy drama; plenty of emotion is present in this picture.

The film has been made in collaboration with Formula 1, specifically with the full support of Seven-Time World Champion Lewis Hamilton (who also serves as a producer on the project), Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Principal Toto Wolff, and the larger Formula 1 organisation, which has given them unique access to the paddock and the track. The trailer even showcases cameo appearances from the likes of Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jr., Sergio Pérez, and, in a scene-stealing moment, Guenther Steiner!

The first-look teaser trailer arrived during the 2024 British Grand Prix, which saw Hamilton win for the ninth time and had Pitt film additional scenes earlier in the week.

This teaser is only a first look at what is to come, but it looks damn impressive, and we think audiences will be in for a hell of a rush when F1 arrives in cinemas on June 25, 2025.

Image: Warner Brothers

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At over three minutes in length, his new trailer presents the beauty and majesty that Villeneuve brings to the big screen with his adaptation of Dune and the resulting piece of cinema will take audiences into Villeneuve’s own theatre of the mind now brought to life as he achieves a childhood dream of bringing this story to the cinema screen.

Watch the all-new trailer below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

In the far future of humanity, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) accepts the stewardship of the dangerous desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, the only source of the most valuable substance in the universe, “melange” (also called “spice”), a drug that extends human life, provides superhuman levels of thought, and makes faster-than-light travel practical. Though Leto knows the opportunity is an intricate trap set by his enemies, he takes his Bene Gesserit concubine Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), young son and heir Paul (Timothée Chalamet), and most trusted advisors to Arrakis. Leto takes control of the spice mining operation, which is made perilous by the presence of giant sandworms. A bitter betrayal leads Paul and Jessica to the Fremen, natives of Arrakis who live in the deep desert.

This new Dune trailer gives audiences a key insight into the events of this blockbuster movie and mark my words, this film will be an event that all must witness up on the big screen. Having been lucky enough to have witnessed a special IMAX preview event of Dune, and having witnessed the first 10 minutes of footage I can say that without-a-doubt this film will very much be a cinema defining event movie. And audiences the world overr will be enthralled by what they witness.

With a phenomenal cast that includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Javier Bardem and Stellen Skarsgard, Dune is a cinematic event for the ages, and this new film will totally blow your mind away with the images and story that it brings to life.

The new trailer has terrific energy and action attached to it, and the scope and scale of this project and the attention to detail that Villeneuve’s brings to this futuristic and planet-defining tale of science fiction is sure to leave a big impression on audiences, both those new to the material, along with established Dune fanatics.

With its grand visuals, impressive characters and unique designs and artistry, Dune is shaping up to be something incredibly bold and dynamic, and its impressive themes of power, loyalty, ecology, identity, civilization and destiny are sure to hold you in its grasp. The trailer is also set to Hans Zimmer’s beautiful new score which replaces earthly instruments of human construction with organic percussion sounds, alongside resampled vocalisations of many different performers to establish a sound that is unique to the film’s vast future setting.

Dune is an event movie that will hold audiences in awe and wonder and will arrive IN CINEMAS on October 21….and the spice must flow.

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Check out the full trailer below:

Here’s the official synopsis

In the far future of humanity, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) accepts stewardship of the dangerous desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, the only source of the most valuable substance in the universe, “the spice”, a drug which extends human life, provides superhuman levels of thought, and makes foldspace travel possible. Though Leto knows the opportunity is an intricate trap set by his enemies, he takes his Bene Gesserit concubine Lady Jessica (Rebecca Fergusson), young son and heir Paul (Timothée Chalamet), and most trusted advisers to Arrakis. Leto takes control of the spice mining operation, which is made perilous by the presence of giant sandworms. A bitter betrayal leads Paul and Jessica to the Fremen, natives of Arrakis who live in the deep desert.

Check out my full trailer reaction for Dune below:

Coming in at just over 3 minutes in length, this new trailer for Dune presents a grand overview of Villeneuve’s epic film which charts the journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), heir to to the House Atreides, who must grow from boy to man on the harsh desert planet of Arrakis, which contains the most precious substance in the entire universe, ‘the spice melange’.

Everything about this blockbuster film screams epic, and Villeneuve brings his deep level of detail and focus to realizing Frank Herbert’s Dune in all it’s glory. From it’s cast scale and fascinating wold building of its unique futuristic art and design to the stunning cast of characters, Villeneuve’s Dune is truly shaping up to the be the cinematic event of the year and film fans will be in for an amazing treat with this one.

Joining Chalamet is an amazing cast of the world’s best performers including Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa and Javier Bardem. Those who take prominent positions in this first trailer include Chalamet, Zendaya, Rampling and Momoa, and there’s plenty of incredible detail to pull in audiences thanks to the grand visuals of cinematographer Greig Fraser and the majestic sample of Hans Zimmer’s new score.

The visuals of Dune look incredibly striking and dynamic and as is his process, Villenue has drawn on natural light and in-camera affects to stagger the massive scale and size of Dune’s universe. A balance of light and shadow also clearly flows through the frames of this film and Paul’s prophetic dreams and the horrors of the Harkonnen horde are shown in all their glory up on the screen.

Dune is far and away my most anticipated film, and this trailer is a phenomenal watch from beginning to end and sets the stage for something mythic and incredible when it arrives in cinemas on December 26.

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Vanity Fair once again brings a brand new selection of images to audiences, alongside an expanded look into the creation of this epic science fiction film, which will be split into two parts at the insistence of director Denis Villeneuve, whom has long sighted this adaptation as his passion project.

“I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie,” says Villeneuve. “The world is too complex. It’s a world that takes its power in details.”

To bring this film to life the director has assembled an incredible cast of talented performers who include the likes of Timothee Charalemt as Paul Atreides, Dune’s central character; Rebecca Ferguson as Paul’s mother Lady Jessica; Oscar Isaac as Paul’s father, Duke Leto Atreides, Lord of the House Atreides; Josh Brolin as Gurney Helleck, weapons master of House Atreides; Jason Momoa as Duncan Idado, swordmaster of House Atreides; Stephen McKinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat, a Mentat loyal to House Atreides; Chang Chen as Dr. Wellington Yueh, a Suk doctor in the employ of the Atreides family; Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, sworn enemy to Leto and former steward of Arrakis; Dave Bautista as ‘Beast’ Glossu Rabban, the brutish nephew of Baron Harkonnen; David Dastmalchian as Piter De Vries, a twisted Mentat loyal to the Baron; Zendaya as Chani, Fremen daughter of Imperial Planetologist Liet-Kynes and Paul’s love interest; Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Liet-Kynes, Imperial Planetologist and Javier Bardem as Stilgar, leader of the Fremen.

In addition to this unbelievable cast that Villeneuve has assembled for Dune, the director has also pulled together an incredible line-up of behind-the-scenes collaborators for this project including cinematographer Greig Fraser and composer Hans Zimmer, who are bringing their talents to bear in a big way on this production. From thee new images it’s clear that Fraser’s lens will capture some extraordinary images, and the film’s production and locations, including the likes of Jordan and Abu Dubai, and these crisp vistas and seemingly unending desert landscapes will truly transport audiences to a new realm and landscape.

Dune has some of the most amazing character ever committed to the printed page, and Villeneuve is working his own magic here to expand on them, and make them his own. One such character is Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica, mother to Paul and Duke Leto’s concubine, who has immense power within the narrative. Villeneuve has described Lady Jessica as a ‘warrior priestess’ and the importance of Lady Jessica to the success of Dune’s narrative was not lost on actress Rebecca Ferguson.

“She’s a mother, she’s a concubine, she’s a soldier,” says Ferguson. “Denis was very respectful of Frank’s work in the book, [but] the quality of the arcs for much of the women have been brought up to a new level. There were some shifts he did, and they are beautifully portrayed now.”

The other character whom Villeneuve spent considerable time developing for the film was Dune’s chief antagonist, the brutal and monstrous Baron Harkonnen, who will be played by Stellen Skarsgard, and for the moment, along side Dave Bautisa’s ‘Beast’ Rabban and the rest of the Harkonnen host, is yet to be seen.

Considerable prosthetics have been used to bring the character to life, and Villeneuve’s take on the classic bad guy character sees the Baron as less of a mad man and more of a predator. “As much as I deeply love the book, I felt that the baron was flirting very often with caricature,” says Villeneuve. “And I tried to bring him a bit more dimension. That’s why I brought in Stellan. Stellan has something in the eyes. You feel that there’s someone thinking, thinking, thinking—that has tension and is calculating inside, deep in the eyes. I can testify, it can be quite frightening.”

Some of the coolest images from this new set released by Vanity Fair highlight the film’s supporting cast including the likes of Oscar Issac’s Duke Leto, Josh Brolin’s tough-willed warrior Gurney Helleck and Jason Momoa’s elegant swordmaster Duncan Idaho. The new look at these characters gives us an insight into the world of the House of Atreides, which seems to meld ideas of both classic European and Japanese design with their incredible full-plate science fiction armour, and their perfectly crafted weaponry. Both Isaac and Momoa look particularly great in Dune, with Isaac possessing this commanding presence of command as Leto and Momoa having this Samurai elegance to him as Duncan.

One of the most beautiful images also showcases one of the film’s most important central characters, Chani, a native Fremen daughter of Arrakis, and the love interest for Chalamet’s Paul. This image is absolutely stunning and Zendaya perfectly captures the very essence of Chani and the Fremen people. There’s a beauty to her, but also a savageness, and a sense that perhaps she has seen more than she has supposed to see and you can feel that she’s a survivor. It’s a beautiful image and one that so clearly captures the very essence of what this Dune film is going to be like.

Everything about this first set of images for Dune is cause for excitement, and these images showcase a beautifully rendered science fiction universe that will be amazing to explore and watch when Dune arrives in cinemas on December 26.

Source: Vanity Fair

Images: Roadshow Films

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