‘F1’ Sequel Officially Greenlit by Apple

Following its impressive box-office run ($633M) and months of speculation about a follow-up, producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed that a sequel to “F1” has now been greenlit at Apple Studios.

Speaking to the BBC at the annual Academy Awards luncheon in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Bruckheimer confirmed the sequel and admitted he was “surprised and thrilled” by the film’s Best Picture nomination at the upcoming Oscars.

“It was a long journey to get the movie made because we had to endure a couple of strikes — but in the end, the movie entertained audiences around the world,” he said of “F1.” “I’d never worked with Brad Pitt before, and it was really a thrill to collaborate with him.”

Although no concrete details have been revealed, it’s reasonable to assume that Brad Pitt will return for the sequel. Beyond that, Bruckheimer says everything is being kept under wraps.

Clocking in at 156 minutes, “F1” delivered a high-octane spectacle that unapologetically embraced classic sports-movie tropes — and audiences responded. The immersive racing sequences rank among the most thrilling ever captured on film.

Moviegoers turned out in force. “F1” even surpassed “Superman” at the summer box office, grossing $15M more. As for its production budget, estimates vary widely, with some reports suggesting it may have reached $400M. Still, with Apple valued at around $3 trillion, the price tag is likely not a major concern for Tim Cook.

Meanwhile, Kosinski has a packed slate of potential projects. He has hinted at “Top Gun 3,” which he is co-writing with Ehren Kruger. He’s also set to direct an untitled UFO conspiracy thriller for Apple Studios. In addition, a reboot of “Miami Vice” is set to shoot this summer, with Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan attached to star.