Ron Howard's 1976 F1 film looks to be a go...

Howard posted on Twitter tonight, click for the photo;

"Pre-Production problem solving Getting close to principle photography on Rush"

Rush will retell the story of the 1976 Formula One season, the rivalry between Niki Lauda and James Hunt, Niki's wreck, the aftermath and the conclusion of the championship.

The screenplay is by Peter Morgan, who wrote The Queen, Frost/Nixon and The Last King Of Scotland.

The cast is apparently set, with Chris Hemsworth (Thor) playing James Hunt, and Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds) playing Niki Lauda.

This film should not be confused with the Dreamworks adaptation of the Tom Rubython-penned biography, Shunt: The Story Of James Hunt, also in preproduction with Alex Pettyfer starring.

So, it looks like we are definitely getting at least one 70's F1 movie soon...

 

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/01/16/ron-howard-filming-rush-nurburgring-nordschleife/

 

I am extremely excited after all of those details (and seeing those glorious machines on the Nürburgring). I think Peter Morgan is an extremely talented writer and I hope that this movie is a success in America (reaching many, many more young F1 fans).

 

Great news!!!

 

Please no love story or computer graphics. A deft hand would be nice and hopefully Ron's disinterest in the sport will serve to keep everything in perspective although he'll undoubtedly be pressured to make another Days of Flumber.

 

Love story? They're telling the story of James Hunt - they'll be lucky if it doesn't end up rated XXX!

Hunt's infamous overalls badge: "Sex - breakfast of champions"

 

I wonder if they'll include the scene where Ron Dennis walks in on Hunt getting "serviced" in an empty garage space just minutes before the start of the Japanese GP.

 

Ron Dennis at the 76 Jap GP?

I've never heard that story before, - Hunt getting it on in a garage - no problem beleiving that, but Dennis in F-1 in 76 - hard to buy... he was running Rondell racing at the time...

 

It's going to be interesting - if it makes it to the big screen.

1976 stands out as a fary tale year... almost like a real life movie version of Grand Prix...

Hunt young star is WC, Lauda old hand gets banged up 2x in same year - almost fataly injured, comes back and almost wins WDC - Old man Ferrari up to his old ways, you had lots of winners in 76, great drivers - and it was still kind of clubby & modern at the same time.

I wonder if they will use CGI to modify the track scenery at all... cause none of the tracks today - Nurburgring included looks as it did in 76... remember all the rows of catch fencing, much less armco, and some of the curbs were not as wide... and much taller... no writing on the race track..... its and the big thing is the pits complex was COMPLETELY different... as was the track configuration.

same will go for all tracks - Watkins Glenn might be closer to how it was back in the day. It will be interesting if they take the time to make it look period, or just use what is there today.

 

As always happens with these Hollywood biopics, it could be great or a disgrace. In both cases I´m going to watch it.

There was also a project about Von Trips with Tobey Maguire as Phil Hill, but I don´t know if it finally got the green light.

 

I've always heard it was Ken Tyrrell that found Hunt "clearing his mind" with a young lady...

 

I've heard nothing on The Limit for almost a year, and Tobey has a pile of projects to choose from. I'll bet that if Rush and Go Like Hell (The Ford vs Ferrari at leMans movie) do well in cinemas, we'll see The Limit and possibly a pre-war Monaco GP movie...

 

Howard did an excellent job in Apollo 13, which also could have gone either way. Even though you knew the final outcome of Apollo 13, the realism, the authenticity of the actual events, the characters, and the story were extremely compelling.

 

Excellent point. If this is the Apollo 13 of racing movies, I will see it many, many times.

 

I like the odds of this coming through better than Austin.

 

Thats just stupid.

 

You're right. I'll go to Formula1.com right now and book my tickets. Oh wait, you can't.

 

Well the movie is not even out yet, duh!!!

 

Ooops. Brain fade. I don't know why on earth I typed Ron Dennis. It was Patrick Head, who was with Walter Wolf at that time.

 

Perhaps just me but I'd prefer all live scenery over CGI even it becomes period correct. Many/most, myself aren't familiar with what the tracks looked like 35 yrs ago. Editing and recreated sets for pits could do a fair job, No?
Glad to see Opie at the helm of this, I expect quality work.

 

How can the scenes be period correct without CGI as most of the tracks are gone or have been castrated??

 

They can't be, but will it REALLY matter?

If they REALLY had to make it like 1976, the barriers would come down, the sand pits would be gone, the large trees would be put back in... this is not needed, it's about the drivers and the cars.

 

Ron Howard ?

Ron Howard ???

 

But that is the real difference... how dangerous it was back then. If Lauda's accident occured today, even in same car, doubtful that he would have cught fire... its the impact with a stone wall - stone cliff that really ruptured the tanks.... if he had hit the armco, most likely he would have bounced back or slid down the armco.... the slamming into the stones and the being rammed is what caused all the fire.

In my mind if you are going to tell the story, the places are just like another character.

 

This is exciting.

We need a run of good racing movies.