Brad Pitt's 'Apex': A $400 million return to the racetrack

A retired race car driver returns to the track to become a mentor to a younger colleague and fight for fame and glory one last time. It sounds like a summary of the 2001 film "Driven" starring Sylvester Stallone. However, it is a description of the new production "Apex," starring Brad Pitt.

Brad Pitt has been a frequent guest at Formula 1 races in Europe for years, as if sensing that one day he would play a race car driver. This possibility only emerged when the Hollywood star was approaching his 60th birthday. Therefore, he will play the role of a retired champion who supports a younger team partner while trying to close unresolved matters from the past.

It is already known that "Apex" will be one of the most expensive films in history. Over CAD 400 million has been spent on its production. Like "Napoleon" or "Killers of the Flower Moon," it is expected to become one of the Apple TV+ streaming platform attractions, but it will first be shown in theatres for at least a month. Apple has also agreed with the IMAX network to secure the film's presence on large-format screens.

"Apex" is being compared to "Top Gun: Maverick" in a car-themed version. The script structure (veteran vs. rebellious youths) is similar, and Joseph Kosinski directs both films. Additionally, the scenes were filmed on the famous Silverstone track.

As mentioned, "Apex" will be one of the most expensive productions in history so that box office success would be very beneficial. It is worth remembering, however, that car racing films (excluding the "Fast and Furious" series) are typically not very popular. Even the most acclaimed ones, such as "Rush" from 2013 about the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, "Ford v Ferrari" from 2019, and last year's "Ferrari" by Michael Mann, had limited success.

One should also remember the spectacular failure of the 2001 film "Driven," which led to the downfall of one of the biggest movie stars. Sylvester Stallone took many years to rebuild his position in Hollywood. The theatrical release of "Apex" is scheduled for June 25, 2025.