‘F1’ Director Joseph Kosinski On The Upside Of Streaming & Sequels Starring Tom Cruise

There has arguably never been a stranger time to direct blockbusters. Just ask Joseph Kosinski.

With the ongoing discourse surrounding the preservation of the theatrical experience versus the proliferation of streaming and all the alarmism that comes in tow with it – particularly in light of Netflix’s appetite for Warner Bros. Discovery – I sought to understand whether he had any personal apprehensions about the digital release of F1 (now available via Apple TV).

Cinema, after all, is a language of scale – how could a home entertainment setup ever hope to compete with an IMAX screen? Particularly when it comes to a story as grand-scale as his motorsport magnum opus and, prior to that, Top Gun: Maverick.

It was only from his holistic view of the new-age distribution models that I came to realise eyeballs – filtered through from any format – is ultimately a net-positive result for cinema. Streaming mightn’t be the second influx of revenue that DVDs/Blu-rays once represented and, in turn, what previously helped studios justify taking more creative risks. But supporting the films we as audiences want to see more of is crucial support all the same.

In other words, the name of the game for those of us munching on popcorn in the cheap seats is adaptation.

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“We had a great run theatrically. I think we were one of the top IMAX films this year, so a lot of people did manage to get out and see it the way we intended,” he told B.H.

“I understand that streaming has a reach that’s very far, very wide, and gets to people that weren’t able to see it theatrically for one reason or another. I love that we’re able to reach people who couldn’t get to the theatre.”

“We’re all busy. I understand the world we live in is crazy, and we have all these other outlets.”

Kosinski continued: “I also think a lot of people who are going to be watching it on [Apple TV] saw it in the theatre first and now want to experience it again or over and over, which is the beauty of streaming… We make it for the big screen, and I still believe that that is the best way to experience a film for the first time, especially one that’s made for the big screen. But streaming has a purpose.”

Spectacle aside, from a logistical standpoint alone, F1 was impressive when you consider that inherent conflict between the precision and choreography required for a film production, and the unpredictable nature of a real-life race weekend.

What practical advice would Kosinski have offered his past self before rolling cameras?

“You have to embrace the chaos, and that’s something I learned very early – probably in our first weekend shooting at Silverstone,” said Joseph Kosinski.

“You have a plan going in, but things are going to happen that are unexpected… That’s the beauty of live action filmmaking. That’s what makes it different from any other version of it. And it’s in those unexpected moments that I think the magic really happens. I think that’s what gives the film the reality that it needed to represent this incredible sport.”

“It was a challenge that I’ve never had before in a film, but it’s certainly going to change the way I make movies in the future, and certainly makes me feel like we can do anything after making it through this film.”

In this day and age, it’s almost inevitable for a successful film to survive without raising questions about a sequel.

Shortly after F1 made a splash at the box office, Kosinski publicly discussed a dream crossover between his own Brad Pitt-led screen universe and the one established by Tony Scott’s cult classic Days of Thunder, starring Tom Cruise – inspired in equal parts by the director’s working relationship with both leading men and their rumoured go-kart battles which occurred while shooting Interview with a Vampire.

I prompted Kosinski about what would need to happen for the A-list stars to align – and whether there was any room left to also introduce Sylvester Stallone and the Driven mythology into the bigger picture.

“Wow. Okay, now you’re talking F1 Part IV or V,” he answered with a chuckle.

“Yeah, listen… I’ve had the pleasure to work with both Tom [Cruise] and Brad [Pitt] on different films, and of course, you fantasise about the opportunity to put them on film at the same time. But it takes a really special story. It takes something like Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid or All The President’s Men – you need a great story to bring two legends like that together.”

“Obviously, the reality of movie star schedules and the fact that you’ve got franchises at different studios makes it very complicated. But who knows? Maybe down the road at some point, I’ll be able to find a way to get two of my favourite guys together in the same picture.”

At that stage, I remark that it’s interesting that Joseph Kosinski namechecked Robert Redford, given my own assertions that Pitt had steadily become more and more “Redford-y” ever since Moneyball.

“He worked with Redford on Spy Game, and I think he learned a lot from him and looked up to him (as we all do as one of the all-time greatest movie stars),” mused Kosinski.

“Brad, when we were talking about great sports movies, The Natural was certainly one that came up along with Hoosiers… Redford certainly was someone who was in our mind when building this character.”

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But before Joseph Kosinski can even entertain the possibility of an F1 x Days of Thunder project, the director has quite the full plate to get through.

Aside from his next Apple Studios picture – an untitled conspiracy thriller about UFOs that’ll also reunite him with legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer – there’s the long-awaited matter of Top Gun 3 currently being drafted by Maverick and F1 screenwriter Ehren Kruger (“It’s an ambitious idea and something we all have high hopes for”); as well as the hotly anticipated Miami Vice reboot, potentially starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler.

“Miami Vice was a show that was very important to me growing up. I mean, as important as any film I saw in the theatre every Friday night – I would tune in to see that show,” Kosinski offered with a grin.

“And it was kind of my first exposure to the influence of Michael Mann, who’s one of my favourite filmmakers of all time. So I’m very excited about the possibility of that. But like you said, it is a little early to talk about that. Hopefully soon I can say more.”

All in due time, I suppose.

Joseph Kosinski’s F1 starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris is now streaming via Apple TV – check out the official synopsis and trailer below:

“In the 1990s, Sonny Hayes (Pitt) was Formula 1’s most promising driver until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, the owner of a struggling Formula 1 team (Javier Bardem) convinces Sonny to return to racing and become the best in the world. Driving alongside the team’s hotshot rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), Sonny soon learns that the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.”