“Heat” and “Thief” director Michael Mann has been developing a Ferrari biopic for over two decades and now, finally, the project get made as Mann is prepping to shoot the film as early as next spring with Hugh Jackman in early talks to star.
Mann recently re-worked the racing drama script by the late Troy Kennedy Martin (“The Italian Job”), based on Brock Yates’ book, and will reportedly present the project for buyers early next week at the Cannes virtual market.
Hugh Jackman will play the titular Ferrari founder, Enzo Ferrari, in the story which is set in the summer of 1957 during a turbulent time for Ferrari. His company was going broke, his marriage was on the rocks, one of his son’s had died and another was struggling to find his place in the world.
Said to have a “The Godfather”-esque feel in being an epic Italian family drama, the film’s big set piece will be set on one 1,000-mile race across Italy – the 1957 Mille Miglia with Mann reportedly building a fleet of replica race cars from the era.
Mann executive produced James Mangold’s recent “Ford v. Ferrari” which covers events nearly a decade later and starred famed actor Remo Girone as Enzo in small supporting role.
Source: Deadline
