Adam Driver replaces Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman in the lead roles of Ferrari.
Based on the book Enzo Ferrari – Man and Machine by Brock Yates, which Michael Mann has been working on for two decades, the feature film will take place in the summer of 1957, when the famous former race car driver finds himself in a complete crisis. The business he and his wife Laura started from scratch ten years earlier is on the verge of bankruptcy. Their tumultuous marriage struggles between mourning one son and acknowledging another. He then decides to make up for his losses by betting on the symbolic Mille Miglia race.
American actor Adam Driver will play Enzo Ferrari, while Penelope Cruz will play Laura, Enzo’s wife. Actress Shailene Woodley will play Lena Lardy’s lover. Michael Mann will direct the Ferrari film from a script by Troy Kennedy Martin (The Italian Job) and Mann. The director is also producing through his company Moto Productions with PJ van Sandwijk and John Lescher, as well as Lars Sylvest, Thorsten Schumacher and Gareth West, with Niels Juul serving as executive producer.
Ambitious casting for a promising biopic
Michael Mann said, “The opportunity to have these amazingly talented artists, actors Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz and Shailene Woodley bring these unique characters to life on location, in Modena and Emilia Romagna, is a dream come true.”Adam Fogelson, President of STXfilms Motion Picture Group, added: “Ferrari is much more than the story of a man and his machine. This is an extraordinary and emotional story that Michael has been developing over the years and the entire STX team can’t wait to start filming with this dream actor and director. Adam Driver is one of the most talented and compelling actors working today, and we’re thrilled to have paired him with Penelope, whose legendary career grows with every role she takes on. “