The official Formula 1 web site revealed Tuesday that Hollywood director Ron Howard is currently working in a project that would bring F1 action on the screens.
Howard, who directed blockbusters such as Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code liked the idea of making a movie about F1 racing. The story will tell the awesome battle for the World title that involved Niki Lauda and James Hunt in 1976.
“I am a huge fan of sports - almost any kind of sport - not just motor racing. I am also always in search of a good story with great characters. Peter Morgan, who did the script for Frost/Nixon, has known Niki Lauda for quite some time and started digging for information about 1976, when Niki had his accident and then literally rose again like a phoenix to fight James Hunt for the title. Peter has written a mesmerizing script - not only for F1 fans, but also for everybody hooked on sports and drawn to extraordinary characters,” said Howard.
The famous director also mentioned that the movie would be a European production with a really big budget.
“The story has so many elements that everybody can be interested in. Take for example James Hunt’s personal environment. While he was fighting for the championship, Richard Burton pinches his wife. That made headlines in the press for weeks! “ Howard explained.
Howard attended the Grand Prix of Monaco earlier this year and was in the paddock of the Silverstone circuit in July with a more attentive eye. “I was there for my first field study and I am planning to visit some more races over the course of this season. I really enjoy it, even if I have to work hard to boost my knowledge of F1. But then I had no idea about astronautics before making Apollo 13,” he confessed.
Howard said he was delighted to have met with Lauda. “Niki and I have had some very good conversations and I really found Peter Morgan’s script character in the real life Niki. He’s a fascinating character who stands for what he’s done in life and who is proud of what he has achieved,” he said.
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| James Hunt sitting in Niki Lauda's Ferrari during the 1976 Belgian Grand Prix. (Photo: WRI2) |
Howard, who directed blockbusters such as Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code liked the idea of making a movie about F1 racing. The story will tell the awesome battle for the World title that involved Niki Lauda and James Hunt in 1976.
“I am a huge fan of sports - almost any kind of sport - not just motor racing. I am also always in search of a good story with great characters. Peter Morgan, who did the script for Frost/Nixon, has known Niki Lauda for quite some time and started digging for information about 1976, when Niki had his accident and then literally rose again like a phoenix to fight James Hunt for the title. Peter has written a mesmerizing script - not only for F1 fans, but also for everybody hooked on sports and drawn to extraordinary characters,” said Howard.
The famous director also mentioned that the movie would be a European production with a really big budget.
“The story has so many elements that everybody can be interested in. Take for example James Hunt’s personal environment. While he was fighting for the championship, Richard Burton pinches his wife. That made headlines in the press for weeks! “ Howard explained.
Howard attended the Grand Prix of Monaco earlier this year and was in the paddock of the Silverstone circuit in July with a more attentive eye. “I was there for my first field study and I am planning to visit some more races over the course of this season. I really enjoy it, even if I have to work hard to boost my knowledge of F1. But then I had no idea about astronautics before making Apollo 13,” he confessed.
Howard said he was delighted to have met with Lauda. “Niki and I have had some very good conversations and I really found Peter Morgan’s script character in the real life Niki. He’s a fascinating character who stands for what he’s done in life and who is proud of what he has achieved,” he said.
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| (Photo: WRI2) |