Neon has snapped up the rights to buy Michael Mann’s “Ferrari,” with its theatrical views set on Christmas Day. The Formula One drama, written by Troy Kennedy Martin and based on the Brock Yates book “Enzo Ferrari – The Man and the Machine”, will premiere on December 25. It stars Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari, Penelope Cruz as Laura Ferrari, Shailene Woodley as Lina Lardi, Jack O’Connell as Peter Collins, Sarah Gadon as Linda Christian, Patrick Dempsey as Piero Taruffi, and Gabriel Leone as Alfonso De Portago. .
Set in the summer of 1957 in the midst of the 1950s Formula One scene, former racer Enzo Ferrari tries to save his company from bankruptcy. With his marriage in crisis due to the death of his son, Ferrari stakes it all on a treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy, the iconic Mille Miglia. The image was shot by Erik Messerschmidt and edited by Pietro Scalia, with production design courtesy of Maria Djurkovic and costumes by Massimo Cantini Parrini, all of whom have been Oscar nominees for previous feature films.
Neon CEO and Founder Tom Quinn commented: “Michael Mann, one of the most innovative and influential filmmakers in American cinema, was moved by the power of this intensely dramatic story to persist for years and bring to the big screen. ‘Ferrari’ reaffirms Neon’s ongoing commitment to supporting visionary auteurs who push the boundaries of cinema. Working with Michael Mann on ‘Ferrari’ is a dream come true for Neon.”
The film, which is expected to premiere at this year’s Venice Film Festival, marks Mann’s return to theatrical roles more than eight years after the Chris Hemsworth-starring hacker action “Blackhat.” . Nominated for four Academy Awards, Mann’s stylish, propulsive melodramas about the similarities and obsessive drive shared by men at the top of their respective professions, be they cops (“Miami Vice,” “Manhunter”), crooks ( “Thief”, “Public Enemies”), boxers (“Ali”) or journalists (“The Insider”), have made him one of the most loved authors among the critical community of the last decades.
Mann recently directed the pilot for HBO Max’s “Toyko Vice” while executive producing the show starring Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe. He also co-wrote, with Meg Gardiner, a sequel novel to their 1995 Al Pacino/Robert De Niro cops and robbers classic, “Heat.”
The “Ferrari” deal was brokered by Dan Friedkin, Ryan Friedkin and Tom Quinn for Neon with CAA Media Finance and attorney Harold Brown of Gang Tire Ramer & Brown on Mann’s behalf. Mann also produces through his Moto Pictures banner alongside PJ van Sandwijk and Birdman producer John Lesher, as well as Marie Savare, John Friedberg, Lars Sylvest, Thorsten Schumacher and Gareth West.
