It’s a great time to be a Michael Mann fan. Following Tokyo Vice earlier this year, last week saw the release of his Heat sequel in novel form and a 4K release of his 1995 crime masterpiece. Now, he’s officially commenced production on Ferrari, his first film since 2015’s Blackhat, on location in Italy.
Starring Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari, Penélope Cruz as Laura Ferrari, Shailene Woodley as Lina Lardi, Patrick Dempsey as racing car driver Piero Taruffi, Jack O’Connell as racing car driver Peter Collins, Sarah Gadon as Linda Christian, and Gabriel Leone as Fon De Portago.
Scripted by Troy Kennedy Martin (The Italian Job) and Mann, based on Brock Yates’ book, Enzo Ferrari – The Man and the Machine, a fall 2023 theatrical release is planned, followed by a streaming release on SHOWTIME.
“The most thrilling part of this experience,” said Mann, “is working with dedicated and passionate artists, Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz and Shailene Woodley, as well as with an extraordinary supporting cast of Jack O’Connell, Patrick Dempsey, Sarah Gadon, Gabriel Leone and more in these highly dramatic roles.”
Ferrari is set during the summer of 1957. Ex-racecar driver, Ferrari, is in crisis. Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing ten years earlier. Their tempestuous marriage struggles with the mourning for one son and the acknowledgement of another. He decides to counter his losses by rolling the dice on one race – 1,000 miles across Italy, the iconic Mille Miglia.
The film will be shot by director of photography Erik Messerschmidt (Mank), with production designer Maria Djurkovic, costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini, and editor Pietro Scalia also part of the crew. See the first official on-set photo below.