The Real Reason Brad Pitt & Tom Cruise Didn’t Star in ‘Ford v Ferrari’

Long before Brad Pitt hit the track in “F1: The Movie”, he was gearing up for a different kind of racing film — one that almost teamed him up with Tom Cruise.

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In a new interview with The National, Pitt opened up about the time he and Cruise were set to co-star in “Ford v Ferrari”, long before the version starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale hit the screen.

“Tom and I, for a while there, were on Ford v Ferrari with Joe [Kosinski] to direct,” Pitt said. “This was about 10 years before the guys who actually made it — and made it a great movie.”

Why Pitt-Cruise Walked Away from ‘Ford v Ferrari’

According to Pitt, both actors were excited about the film, but ultimately stepped away when they realized the roles didn’t align with what they’d envisioned.

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“What it came down to is that we both wanted to drive,” Pitt explained. “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.”

(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures)

The roles eventually went to Matt Damon (as Carroll Shelby) and Christian Bale (as Ken Miles), with James Mangold stepping in to direct the Oscar-winning 2019 film.

Brad Pitt Talks F1 Sequel, Driving Scenes, and His Love for Racing

Now starring in “F1: The Movie”, Pitt said he’s still hooked on the adrenaline — and wouldn’t mind staying in the driver’s seat a little longer.

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“I would want to drive again, selfishly speaking,” he said of a potential F1 sequel. However, his character Sonny Hayes exits the Formula One world by the film’s end.

“F1 is still the focus. It needs to be on Joshua Pierce — Damson Idris’ character — and the rest of the team fighting for a championship,” Pitt said.

“Where does Sonny fit in? I’m not sure. Sonny’s probably out on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting speed records or something like that.”

Could There Be a Days of Thunder Sequel?

Though F1 is top of mind, Pitt also hinted at wanting to collaborate with Cruise again — and even teased interest in revisiting one of Cruise’s classic racing films.

The Hollywood Reporter previously reported that Cruise was exploring a sequel to his 1990 NASCAR film “Days of Thunder.”

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Pitt seemed game, saying he’d love to work with Cruise again in the future.

Red Carpet Reunion: Pitt and Cruise Together Again

While they didn’t share the screen in “Ford v Ferrari”, the two A-listers recently reunited in London. Cruise made a surprise appearance at the “F1: The Movie” premiere, joining and supporting Pitt on the red carpet at Leicester Square.

(Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images)

The pair greeted each other warmly, hugging and posing for photos in matching suits and sunglasses, thrilled to be back in each other’s orbit.

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