You are viewing the archive: “Niki Lauda”

Olivia Wilde Lands ‘Rush’ Role Of Suzy Miller; Russell Crowe For Richard Burton Cameo?

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday October 4, 2011 @ 11:52am PDTTags: Brian Grazer, Brian Oliver, Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Eric Fellner, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Olivia Wilde, Ron Howard, Rush, Russell Crowe, Tim Bevan
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: It’s a role that a lot of actresses wanted, but I’m told that Olivia Wilde will play 1970s supermodel Suzy Miller in Rush, the Ron Howard-directed Formula One drama about the rivalry between drivers Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) and James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth). Cross Creek’s Brian Oliver is producing with Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. Cross Creek funded the film with Exclusive Media Group.

Miller fell in love with and married Hunt, a handsome, womanizing driver, but the most interesting part of their relationship is how Miller soon fell in love with Hunt’s actor pal, Richard Burton. Hunt and Burton famously negotiated a “transfer” of assets, with Burton paying the $1 million divorce settlement that Hunt owed Miller. Burton and Miller were married shortly after.

I’m told that Howard hopes to recruit his A Beautiful Mind star Russell Crowe to play the small role of Burton in the Peter Morgan-scripted film. Wilde, who’ll next be seen starring in Butter, is repped by WME and Untitled along with UK-based Hamilton Hodell.

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Ron Howard-Directed ‘Rush’ Revving Up This Week On German Formula One Track

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday September 6, 2011 @ 2:15pm PDTTags: Brian Grazer, Brian Oliver, Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Eric Fellner, Formula One, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Peter Morgan, Ron Howard, Tim Bevan
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: Rush, the Peter Morgan-scripted drama about the battle between ’70s Formula One racers Niki Lauda and James Hunt, will rev up for action this week. The Ron Howard-directed film doesn’t really start principal photography until after Chris Hemsworth (he plays Hunt) completes Marvel’s The Avengers in a couple of months, but he and Inglourious Basterds‘ Daniel Bruhl (Lauda) will be around this weekend at Nurburgring Race Track in Germany. A race will be held there, featuring the Formula One classic cars that were driven during the 70s. Howard will be shooting 35mm all weekend with his cast.

This is more than just an opportunity for Howard to get generic footage on a race track; Nurburgring plays a pivotal part in the drama. That’s the track where Lauda, when he was reigning world champion and the only driver to ever complete a lap on that track in less than 7 minutes, tried to rally the other drivers to boycott the German Grand Prix race from being held there in 1976 because he felt safety arrangements weren’t up to snuff. When the other drivers voted against it, Lauda took the wheel and crashed his Ferrari on the second lap. Because it was so early in the race, Lauda’s car was full of fuel; his face was badly burned and he inhaled toxic hot gases that scorched his lungs before three rival drivers got out of their cars and pulled him from the wreckage. The film focuses on Lauda’s competitive spirit, which prompted him to get back behind the wheel despite being in severe pain six weeks later in Italy to stop Hunt from taking the world title. Read More »

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Between ‘Thor’ Turns, Chris Hemsworth Revs ‘Rush’

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Monday July 11, 2011 @ 4:31pm PDTTags: Brian Grazer, Brian Oliver, Chris Hemsworth, Cross Creek Pictures, Eric Fellner, Formula One, Imagine Entertainment, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Peter Morgan, Ron Howard, Rush, Tim Bevan
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: Chris Hemsworth will get behind the wheel to star in the role of British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush, the Peter Morgan-scripted drama that shapes up as the next directing effort for Ron Howard. Cross Creek Pictures … Read More »

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Ron Howard, David Koepp Team Up For ‘Spy Vs. Spy’

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Wednesday June 22, 2011 @ 2:54pm PDTTags: Akiva Goldsman, Captain Richard Phillips, David Koepp, Niki Lauda, Paul Greengrass, Peter Morgan, Ron Howard, Stephen King, Tom Hanks
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: Remember Spy vs. Spy, the running comic strip of one-ups-manship between rival spooks from Mad Magazine? A live-action bigscreen version is moving forward at Warner Bros for Ron Howard to direct. David Koepp will produce with Howard and his … Read More »

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