No surprise, after its very successful box office, and months of rumors about its greenlight, Apple CEO Tim Cook says a sequel to “F1” is currently brewing over at Apple Studios.
"It's definitely something that's being talked about," Cook told Variety at the Emmys. "It's been such a huge summer blockbuster for us. We're so proud of it. The talent involved are such next level, and Brad did such a wonderful job acting in it. We're super proud of it, and we can't wait to bring it to the surface."
While details remain under wraps, one can’t help but wonder if this could be tied to the “Days of Thunder” crossover that director Joseph Kosinski wants to pitch — a reunion with Tom Cruise behind the wheel.
Given the nostalgic pull of the original film and Cruise’s enduring star power, such a crossover would be catnip for both Apple and Paramount. It’s the kind of IP fusion that practically sells itself. I can only imagine both studios chomping at the bit to make it happen.
“F1” was a 156-minute adrenaline rush that shamelessly leaned into sports cliches. And you know what? It workedThe you-are-there race scenes are some of the best ever put on celluloid.
Audiences showed up, too. “F1” actually outgrossed “Superman” at the summer box-office, having earned $623M worldwide. As for the budget, nobody really knows how much the damn thing cost — some have the figure as high as $400M— although I doubt Cook could care less, as Apple is worth $3 trillion.
In the meantime, Kosinski is juggling several contending projects for his potential next film. He’s teased ‘Top Gun 3,’ which he’s co-writing with Ehren Kruger. At the same time, he’s attached to direct an untitled UFO conspiracy thriller for Apple Studios. Also in development: a Miami Vice reboot for Universal, with Dan Gilroy (“Nightcrawler”) penning the script.