Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley have joined Heat director Michael Mann’s passion project, Ferrari. Alongside Mann directing the film, The Italian Job screenwriter Kennedy Martin will be writing the script based on the 1991 book, Enzo Ferrari: The Man and the Machine. The upcoming project will be produced by Mann's Moto Productions banner alongside P.J. van Sandwijk, John Lesher, Lars Sylvest, Thorsten Schumacher, and Gareth West, with executive producer Niels Juuls.
Following STXfilms’ acquired global distribution rights to Mann’s Ferrari project, the studio has announced the casting for the upcoming film. The film will follow two-time Oscar nominee Driver as Enzo Ferrari, Oscar winner Cruz as Enzo’s estranged wife Laura, and Emmy nominee Woodley as mistress Lina Lardi. The biopic film will follow the summer of 1957 of legendary motoring icon and entrepreneur, Enzo Ferrari, leading up to the Mille Miglia race, as he faces the loom of bankruptcy and deals with his marriage being tested. In a statement, Mann shares his enthusiasm for bringing his cinematic experience with confirmed casting as he brings his vision to life in Modena and the Emilia-Romagna. Read Mann’s statement below:
“Being able to have these wonderfully talented artists, actors Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz and Shailene Woodley, bring to life these unique characters on location in Modena and the Emilia-Romagna is a vision fulfilled.”
Mann’s vision for his project has been developing for two decades, with the Parallel Mothers star replacing Noomi Rapace as Laura and The House of Gucci star replacing Hugh Jackman for the role of Enzo, who had initially replaced Christian Bale in the starring role due to concerns of embodying the character through weight gain. Despite Mann’s passion project continuously being stalled, these setbacks have allowed the biopic to have continued to foster over the years, pairing legendary stars Driver and Cruz together for the highly anticipated film. Although details of the release have been undisclosed, filming for Ferrari will begin this spring in Italy.