Apple's F1 film gets June 2025 release date

Release window announced

After weeks of anticipation, Apple has finally unveiled the release dates for its upcoming Formula 1 film.

The movie will debut in international markets on June 25, 2025, before hitting theaters in North America two days later on June 27, 2025.

According to an F1 press release, the global theatrical release will include IMAX theaters, offering audiences an immersive cinematic experience with crystal-clear visuals and powerful digital audio.

Production challenges

Originally slated for a June 2024 release, the film's production encountered setbacks due to the 2023 Hollywood actors' strike by SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists).

The strike, prompted by concerns over studios' use of AI technology in place of real actors, forced the cancellation of key scene filming during last year's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Ongoing filming efforts

Despite the disruptions, the production team has remained resilient, continuing to capture footage at various 2023 and 2024 F1 events.

During the strike, emphasis was placed on gathering atmospheric shots and utilizing stunt crews to maintain progress.

As Lewis Hamilton, the film's producer and seven-time F1 champion, revealed in Vegas,

"We've already got great footage with the demo drivers, who have done a great job, as all the [F1] drivers got to see in Austin [2023]."

Filming Schedule for 2024 With the actors' strike resolved, the production is now poised to ramp up filming efforts throughout the remainder of the 2024 F1 season.

The team plans to capture footage at the British, Hungarian, Belgian, Mexican, and Las Vegas Grands Prix, culminating with the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.

Footage has already been collected at the Japanese Grand Prix in April.

Budget implications

The delays and disruptions caused by the actors' strike have reportedly inflated the film's budget to over $300 million, potentially making it one of the most expensive productions ever undertaken.

Part of this escalation stems from the need to reshoot certain scenes to align with the updated 2024 car designs, liveries, and sponsor logos captured during the 2023 season.

Star-studded cast and crew

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, known for his work on "Top Gun: Maverick," and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film boasts an impressive cast led by Brad Pitt as a former F1 driver returning to the championship with the fictional APXGP team.

Joining him is Damson Idris, portraying a rookie racer. Lewis Hamilton, a producer on the project, has also contributed to the film's script.

IMAX experience

Adding to the anticipation, the film's global theatrical release will extend to IMAX theaters, promising an unparalleled cinematic experience for motorsport enthusiasts. F1's press release highlights how

"the crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theater geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie."

As production continues to capture the intense action and atmosphere of the 2024 F1 season, anticipation builds for this ambitious cinematic venture that aims to bring the thrilling world of Formula 1 to the big screen in an unprecedented way.