There is never a bad time to talk about Formula One, and Brad Pitt clearly knows it. His latest film “F1” hits theaters this week and is already being called one of the biggest releases not just of the summer but of the entire year. In the movie, Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a veteran driver who comes out of retirement to mentor and race alongside a rising star.
The premiere took place earlier today at Cineworld in Leicester Square. Just when it seemed the excitement had reached its peak, Tom Cruise arrived. His appearance, followed by red carpet photos with Pitt, immediately set the internet buzzing. Seeing two of Hollywood’s most iconic stars together is always a spectacle, but this particular reunion is gaining attention for a more specific reason.
What’s Behind the Buzz Around Cruise and Pitt’s ‘F1’ Appearance
The reason Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise’s meeting at the “F1” premiere caused such a stir has a long story behind it. First of all, it marked a rare reunion between the two stars who headlined “Interview with the Vampire” back in 1994. Film buffs will remember that while the movie became a cult classic, the experience behind the scenes was far from harmonious. Pitt and Cruise famously clashed during production, with both vowing never to work together again.
Source: IMDb
In the 2010s, however, the tension seemed to have faded. Both actors were attached to an early version of “Ford v Ferrari,” which at the time was being developed by Joseph Kosinski—the same director who now helms “F1.” The project was titled “Go Like Hell” and would have seen Cruise as Carroll Shelby and Pitt as Ken Miles. According to Kosinski, speaking at the Directors on Directing panel at Comic-Con 2020, the two stars even participated in a table read. The idea was ultimately canceled because the budget proved too expensive to move forward.
Eventually, the picture evolved into “Ford v Ferrari,” which was directed by James Mangold and starred Matt Damon and Christian Bale. If the original version had gone ahead, it would have marked the long-awaited second collaboration between Cruise and Pitt, and possibly signaled a new chapter for the two actors.
Still, there may still be hope for another team-up. Just a few weeks ago, Pitt told E! News that he would be open to working with Cruise again, as long as there are no extreme stunts involved. Referring to Cruise’s aerial action scenes in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” Pitt joked, “So when he does something again that’s on the ground, [then yes].” Whether or not it happens, their brief moment on the red carpet was enough to reignite interest in one of Hollywood’s most talked-about pairings.
