Both had rugged, handsome looks, enjoyed successful careers in Hollywood and shared a passion for motorsports.
After Brad Pitt, 60, donned his leather suit and a pair of aviator sunglasses at Silverstone this weekend for the Grand Prix, many couldn’t help but draw parallels with the “king of cool” who died in 1980 at the age of 50.
The Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood actor will play veteran driver Sonny Hayes in the upcoming Formula One film, to be called F1, 53 years after McQueen played Michael Delaney in the 1971 racing film Le Mans.
Meanwhile, their acting careers also took the same direction, with both Hollywood heartthrobs taking lead roles in warm-hearted films, with McQueen starring in 1962’s The War Lover, while Pitt played US Army Sergeant Don ‘Wardaddy’ Collier in 2014’s Fury.
Brad Pitt, 60 (left), is slowly transforming into the American actor and racing driver nicknamed the “king of cool”, Steve McQueen (right), who died in 1980 aged 50.
The similarities don’t end there, as both actors starred in similar western romance films. In 1994, Brad starred alongside Anthony Hopkins in Legends of the Fall.
Meanwhile, 14 years earlier, in 1980, McQueen, once the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, played a legendary lawman, outlaw and gunslinger in the American western Tom Horn.
He was nicknamed the ‘king of cool’ because his personal brand consisted of being rebellious, mysterious and attractive.
McQueen was known as a true rebel (rather than a PR creation) who fascinated everyone, even off-screen.
He was known for being passionate about cars and speed, as well as car, motorcycle and airplane racing.
He was an accomplished racing driver, competing in events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and the British Touring Car Championship. He also took part in motorcycle racing, his most notable race being the International Six Day Trial.
Fans are also fascinated by Brad’s off-screen antics, from his love life, his divorce from Angelina Jolie, his legal battles, and even his interesting style.
The similarities don’t end there, as both actors have starred in similar western romance films. In 1994, Brad starred alongside Anthony Hopkins in Legends of the Fall.
Fourteen years earlier, in 1980, McQueen, once the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, played a legendary lawman, outlaw and gunslinger in the American western Tom Horn.
McQueen and Pitt are also known to have been behind the camera, as Brad is credited as a producer on their F1 film. McQueen attempted to make the Formula 1 film, Day of The Champion, in 1965.
Unfortunately for McQueen, a parallel film, John Frankenheimer’s Grand Prix, beat him to the punch and played a central role in the cancellation of his passion project.
The interesting story of the film that never made it to cinema screens was told in the Sky documentary Steve McQueen: The Lost Movie.
The documentary featured never-before-seen footage from the project, including an opening shot of McQueen’s film.
Hopefully Brad’s new F1 movie, which It will be co-produced by Lewis Hamilton, scheduled for release in June 2025, will not suffer the same fate as McQueen’s The Champion.
Brad looks set to make it big, as he mingled with professional racing drivers while filming a scene for the Formula One movie at the iconic Silverstone circuit earlier this month.
The Hollywood star was dressed in a helmet and racing suit as he prepared to take to the track for some high-speed driving during the second day of the British Grand Prix festival.
Only a small portion of Brad’s face could be seen as he sat in the car with his helmet on before the grueling practice session during one of the most legendary sporting events of the year.
Steve was nicknamed the ‘king of cool’ because his personal brand was to be rebellious, mysterious and attractive.
Brad is also seen as a Hollywood heartthrob off-screen and his fans are fascinated with his personal life off-screen (pictured: scene from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
The Hollywood heartthrobs played the lead role in the heartwarming film The War Lover in 1962.
Meanwhile, Pitt played US Army Sergeant Don ‘Wardaddy’ Collier in the 2014 war film Fury.
McQueen was known to be a car fanatic, with a great need for speed, racing cars, motorcycles and airplanes (pictured, Bullitt, 1968)
Fans are also fascinated by Brad’s off-screen anecdotes, from his love life, his divorce from Angelina Jolie, his legal battles, and even his interesting style (pictured as Benjamin Button in 2008).
Steve played Thomas Crown in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair alongside Faye Dunaway.
Brad has had a wide variety of roles throughout his career, including playing Mr. O’Brien in The Tree of Life in 2011.
After filming on the movie was delayed amid the US actors and writers strike last year, Brad was seen racing around in a converted Formula Two car between practice sessions as action scenes got underway.
F1 bosses hope the film will follow the example of the popularity of Netflix’s Drive to Survive series. Brad plays the role of veteran driver Sonny Hayes, who returns to the F1 grid after a long absence.
Alongside fictional rookie teammate Joshua Pierce (played by British actor Damson Idris), the Fight Club star lined up with the sport’s 20-man field ahead of last year’s race at Silverstone.
Meanwhile, multiple world champion Lewis, 39, has been heavily involved in the script to ensure the film is as authentic as possible.
Joseph Kosinski, the man behind Top Gun: Maverick, is directing the film, while Jerry Bruckheimer, who also worked on the Tom Cruise blockbuster, is listed as a producer.
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