F1 The Movie director Joseph Kosinski explains why a Bridgerton star was cut from the film. From the director and co-writer of Top Gun: Maverick, Kosinski and Ehren Kruger, the new racing movie stars Brad Pitt as a former Formula One driver who comes out of retirement to mentor rookie prodigy Joshua “Noah” Pearce (Damson Idris), with the supporting cast including Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem. Bridgerton star Simone Ashley was cast, filmed scenes, but was ultimately cut from the final film.

In an interview with People, Kosinski explained why Ashley was cut from F1 The Movie. The director explains that they simply sH๏τ more footage than they could use, and there were some storylines that didn’t make it into the final cut. However, Kosinski praised Ashley’s talent and expressed interest in working with her again in the future. Read his full comments below:

It happens on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use. There were two or three storylines that ultimately didn’t make into the final cut. But Simone, she’s an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer, and I would love to work with her again.

What This Means For F1 The Movie

The Bridgerton Star Appears, But Has No Dialogue

In July 2024, it was reported that Bridgerton star Simone Ashley had joined the cast of F1 The Movie, and she was later spotted on set filming scenes at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit in Northampton, England. However, she was cast in an undisclosed role, and since she was ultimately cut from the final version, it’s unclear what role she plays in the movie. Although Ashley does make a brief appearance on screen, she has no lines of dialogue.

So far, Ashley has not publicly addressed the reduction of her role in F1 The Movie. However, she mentioned in March that production had been “going for years,” highlighting just how long her involvement in the project had been in development, saying, “I met for this movie, I think, before Bridgerton even came out.” During interviews, Ashley also talked about how making F1 The Movie was a “crazy” experience, discussing the demanding shooting schedule, and they were filming in real time during actual Formula One races:

I got to experience many Grands Prix. I don’t think I’ll ever do anything like that again. You had to work as a team. Sometimes we literally had one take for certain sH๏τs. Like, you’d see on the call sheet eight minutes to get this one thing because we were shooting alongside the races. It was amazing, the adrenaline. It was kind of like theater. It felt so live.

Our Take On Simone Ashley Being Cut From F1 The Movie

It’s Probably For The Best

While it’s disappointing for Simone Ashley, a rising star with potential, to have her role cut from F1 The Movie, it’s likely for the best when it comes to the overall integrity of the film. F1 The Movie clocks in at two hours and 35 minutes, which is already pushing it for a summer action blockbuster. For comparison, Kosinski and Kruger’s Top Gun: Maverick was much leaner and more economical at two hours and 10 minutes. F1 The Movie simply can’t risk being overstuffed with needless storylines, so cutting Ashley’s role was probably the right decision.

Source: People