STXfilms has officially acquired the global distribution rights to Michael Mann’s long-gestated biographical film about Enzo Ferrari, the founder of one of the most famous sports car brands in the world. The studio has also announced the official casting of Oscar nominee Adam Driver (House of Gucci), Oscar winner Penélope Cruz (Parallel Mothers), and Emmy nominee Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies), who have signed on for the respective roles of Enzo Ferrari, Laura Ferrari, and Lina Lardi.
“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 said in a statement.
“Ferrari is so much more than a story about a man and his machine,” Chairman of STXfilms, Adam Fogelson said. “It is an extraordinary and emotional story that Michael has been developing for years and the entire team at STX is looking forward to the start of production with this dream cast and filmmaker. Adam Driver is one of the most talented and fascinating actors working today, and we could not be more thrilled to pair him with Penélope, whose legendary career builds with every role she takes.”
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The Ferrari biopic will be directed and produced by acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann (The Last of the Mohicans, Ali) from a screenplay he co-wrote with Troy Kennedy Martin, based on Brock Yates’ book Enzo Ferrari – The Man and the Machine. Mann has been developing the project for two decades now, with Hugh Jackman previously attached for the leading role in 2020.
“It’s the summer of 1957. Ex-racecar driver, Enzo Ferrari, is in crisis,” reads the synopsis. “All the dramatic forces of his life – as volatile as the red race cars he builds – are in collision. Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing ten years earlier. Their tempestuous marriage struggles with the mourning for one son and the acknowledgement of another.
“The passionate instigator of men inspires his Spring Team of drivers, some like surrogate sons. He blunts a hostile press with strafing wit and boldly strategizes to roll the dice on one race – 1,000 miles across Italy, the infamous Mille Miglia. As the red cars slam through towns and mountain passes towards unpredictable outcomes, the future of these vivid characters’ lives are being written.”
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Ferrari will be produced by P.J. van Sandwijk, John Lesher, Lars Sylvest, Thorsten Schumacher, and Gareth West, with Niels Juul set as an executive producer. Production is expected to finally begin in the spring of this year in Italy.
