Several Formula 1 drivers shared their experiences with actor Sylvester Stallone for the movie Driven that opens in South Africa on Friday and were rewarded with cameo appearances.
Several Formula 1 drivers played a role in the making of Driven, the new Sylvester Stallone movie that opens in South Africa on Friday.
Stallone and director Renny Harlin used the drivers’ expert opinions and observations to fine-tune the action scenes and atmosphere.
Stallone, a huge fan of the sport, had planned to set the movie in the F1 world, but the plan was scuppered by F1 supermo Bernie Ecclestone. Instead the movie takes place in the CART arena.
Stallone, who also wrote the screenplay, plays a retired Grand Prix champion who has been called back into action to coach a hotshot rookie, who needs help to beat his German rival. Burt Reynolds plays the team’s wheelchair-bound crew chief. Apparently Frank Williams was the inspiration.
And even though the setting of the movie changed, Juan-Pablo Montoya, Jacques Villeneuve and Jean Alesi were still rewarded with cameo appearances.
“I wanted to make this movie about F1. I spent two years jetting to Grands Prix and getting to know Bernie. I think he was up for it in the beginning, he was incredibly enthusiastic,” Stallone told British CAR magazine recently.
But the deal ended when money matters were discussed. “Bernie wanted tens and tens of millions for the rights to F1, but he was way off the mark. So, in the end, we went to CART and did a deal in a matter of hours,” Stallone said.
The movie has not received rave reviews, but it seems all Stallone’s time spent hanging around the track and befriending the drivers has paid off… the racing scenes are said to easily overshadow the acting.