Christian Bale drops out of Enzo Ferrari biopic

By Rick Marshall January 18, 2016

christian bale enzo ferrari biopic movie — Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com

Michael Mann’s biopic of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari will need to find a new lead actor now that Christian Bale has left the high-profile project.

The Oscar-winning actor reportedly departed the biopic due to concerns about the amount of weight he’d need to gain in order to begin production by this spring. The movie is scheduled to begin filming later this year.

Originally attached to the project in August 2015, Bale will now leave Mann in search of a new star to sign in the very near future if the film is going to stay on schedule, according to Variety.

Tentatively titled Enzo Ferrari, the film is based on Brock Yates’ biographical novel Enzo Ferrari, The Man, The Cars, The Races and (according to its official synopsis) tells the story of “a passionate man and his sprawling world, at times hilarious and at the next moment devastating, as he faces a brutal challenge to his survival.”

Borin in 1898, Enzo Ferrari was a race driver and entrepreneur who founded both the famous Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix racing team and the Ferrari automobile manufacturing company. Known as a tough taskmaster who frequently used psychological tactics to foster competition among his drivers — occasionally to the point where their drive to win resulted in deadly accidents — Ferrari was the subject of a 2003 biopic from Italian director Carlo Carlei that cast Sergio Castellitto as Enzo.

The script for the film was originally penned by The Italian Job and Edge of Darkness screenwriter Troy Kennedy-Martin, and later revised by Mann and The Firm and Three Days of the Condor screenwriter David Rayfiel.

It’s unknown whether Bale’s departure will affect the reported (but not officially confirmed) casting of Prometheus actress Noomi Rapace as Enzo Ferrari’s wife Laura Dominica. Rapace was first reported to be in talks for the role back in October 2015.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.