Christian Balehas agreed to star in directorMichael Mann’sFerraribiopic, which the filmmaker has been trying to get off the ground for the past 15 years.Deadlinereports that the project isn’t set up at a studio yet, but it could very well find a home soon, with pre-sales atfilm festivalssuch as Telluride, Toronto and Venice coming up in the next few weeks.Michael Mannhad once been collaborating on this project with late filmmaker Sydney Pollack, before he passed away in 2008.
Enzo Ferrari(Christian Bale) started out as a driver for Alfa Romeo in 1924, but he ended up leaving the company in the late 1930s to start his own company,Ferrari. The story takes place in 1957, a year described as one where “passion, failure, success and death and life all collided.” While no specific story details were given, 1957 is the year when aFerraridriver namedAlfonso de Portagowas killed during theMille Migliarace. The driver and nine spectators died when a tire blew out and his car careened into the roadside crowd.
It isn’t known if this particular part ofEnzo Ferrari’s life story will be told in the biopic, but it sounds like a safe bet.Ferrari, along with the tire manufacturer Englebert, was charged with manslaughter in a lengthy criminal case that was eventually dismissed in 1961. The Ferrari brand has earned over 5,000 victories on the world’s tracks and roads throughout the company’s illustrious run.Enzo Ferraridied on August 14th 1988 at the age of 90.
The project serves as a reunion forChristian BaleandMichael Mann, who last worked together on 2009’sPublic Enemies. Production won’t start until next summer, so there is still plenty of time for a supporting cast to be assembled. Since there isn’t much we know about the story, we’re not sure what other figures from the racing world will be featured in this biopic.
There was another project that centered on Ferrari’s rivalry with Ford at the annual 24-hour LeMans race entitledGo Like Hell, which once hadTom Cruiseset to star, but we haven’t heard anything about that project in some time.Christian Balewas set to star inThe Deep Blue Good-by, until the project fell apart due to the actor’s knee injury. The actor will next be seen inTerrence Malick’sKnight of Cups, and he is also starring in the upcomingadaptationofThe Big ShortalongsideBrad Pitt,Ryan GoslingandSteve Carell.
