Brad Pitt arrived at the F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas on Saturday, looking like he stepped off the set of one of his most iconic films from 25 years ago.
The 59-year-old Oscar winner — who recently celebrated his first anniversary with girlfriend Ines de Ramon — channeled his bad boy character Tyler Durden from 1999’s Fight Club by rocking sandy blonde short hair, a fitted jacket and tinted sunglasses.
Rounding out his cool vibe with a popped collar and blue jeans, Brad looked every inch the matinee idol who starred as Ed Norton’s alter ego in the David Fincher masterpiece.
He was spotted entering the paddock to the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, with the 3-day F1 spectacular being called the sports’ biggest-ever event.
Brad has been a staple at the F1 tracks during the latest season, as he’s filming the racing drama Apex, directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, alongside actors Damson Idris and Javier Bardem.
Icon: Brad Pitt arrived at the F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas on Saturday, looking like he stepped off the set of one of his most iconic films from 25 years ago
Channeling a bad boy: The Oscar winner channeled his bad boy character Tyler Durden from 1999’s Fight Club by rocking sandy blonde short hair, a fitted jacket and tinted sunglasses
Ageless: Rounding out his cool vibe with a popped collar and blue jeans, Brad looked every inch the matinee idol who starred as Ed Norton’s alter ego in the David Fincher masterpiece
In the flick, Pitt plays a veteran Formula 1 driver who comes out of retirement to train an up-and-coming driver, played by Idris.
Earlier this week, Formula 1 hit back at claims Brad has been forced to scrap ‘footage worth millions of pounds’ after a change in sponsorship deals following the writer’s strike.
Pitt and his production team had recorded hours of footage on location during the first half of the F1 season, with the actor filmed driving a Formula Two car with an added Formula One aero-package at the Silverstone Circuit in July.
But the subsequent 118 day actor’s strike, which affected almost two million industry jobs before it ended in November, put the brakes on any further location work.
The delay and subsequent agreement between the SAG-AFTRA union and film studios has since resulted in a change to sponsorship deals, industry sources claimed – rendering any pre-recorded film unusable.
Formula 1 though have now assured MailOnline that the movie is back on track.
Pitt – who is co-producing the film with Jerry Bruckheimer and Formula One star Lewis Hamilton – had reportedly been forced to scrap tens of millions of pounds worth of valuable footage.
A source told The Sun: ‘It really is a nightmare for Brad and the team. A lot of events had been earmarked for filming throughout the year which would have helped reduce costs rather than having to recreate high-speed moments and wide shots.
Big event: He was spotted entering the paddock to the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, with the 3-day F1 spectacular being called the sports’ biggest-ever event
Busy actor: Brad has been a staple at the F1 tracks during the latest season, as he’s filming the racing drama Apex , directed by Top Gun: Maverick ’s Joseph Kosinski, alongside actors Damson Idris and Javier Bardem
Star power: Brad and Ed Norton lit up the screen in the classic movie, which also starred Helena Bonham Carter
Novel idea: Fight Club is based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk
‘However, with all the sponsors changing it now makes the footage defunct. It’s gutting for Brad and Lewis who see this project as their baby.
‘Apple Studios, who are helping make the film, are far from impressed but at the end of the day, there isn’t a lot they can do.’
Formula 1 has since hit back at the report, with a spokesperson telling MailOnline on Wednesday: ‘The movie is still on schedule for its original 2025 release timeframe. All footage captured this year is relevant.
‘It will continue shooting at Grands Prix in 2024, with Brad and Damson driving actual cars on track for racing sequences. The movie will ensure continuity with the 2023 F1 season in footage captured in 2024.
‘There are no changes to any movie sponsors, and all are committed for the duration of the project. The production has been adapting its schedule before and during the SAG strike and has planned to shoot into 2024 for some time.’
Scrapped? Earlier this week, Formula 1 hit back at claims Brad has been forced to scrap ‘footage worth millions of pounds’ after a change in sponsorship deals following the writer’s strike
Rest assured: Formula 1 though have now assured MailOnline that the movie is back on track
Pitt had been getting up to speed in Formula Two machinery for two months – first at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France and then at Silverstone.
The Fight Club star will play veteran driver Sonny Hayes, who has come out of retirement to compete alongside young rookie Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, and against the sport’s biggest titans.
Spanish star Javier Bardem is also expected to feature as Sonny’s APXGP team principal, while Lewis Hamilton is billed to play a part in the film – presumably as himself.
Hamilton recently spoke about the film, saying: ‘There are nerves because it is something we’ve been working on for so long.
‘We want everyone to love it and to really feel that we encapsulate what the essence of this sport is all about.’
