A fictional crime film set in the world of Formula 1, starring Hollywood legend Robert De Niro and Star Wars actor John Boyega, is being shown on Netflix.
To be called The formula, the film is about an American F1 driver who gets involved with the mafia and is forced to serve as a getaway driver to save his family.
It is to be written, directed and produced by Gerard McMurray, whose previous work includes Burning sand, a Netflix production nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2017 Sundance Festival, and 2018s The first purification.
His Buppie Productions company, which was recently founded, says it “develops entertaining stories with black characters for a mainstream film and television audience”.
It adds: ‘Our company is constantly reinventing itself as it paves the way for influencing popular culture.
“We are the heroes and the villains, the good guys, bad guys, femme fatale and girls next door.”
Other producers include De Niro and his closest collaborators Berry Welsh – who was behind Martin Scorsese’s award-winning Netflix film The Irish – and Jane Rosenthal, whose long credit list includes Bohemian Rhapsody, About a boy, Swing the dog and the De Niro comedy Meet the parents and his sequels.
The Formula is part of a larger deal that Wales and Rosenthal have signed with Netflix.
Few details have been released so far, but McMurray outlined the plot in an Instagram post on Monday.
“It feels great to see this idea finally come to life in my head that I write, direct and produce,” he wrote.
“My new production company Buppie Productions is working with Tribeca Films and Netflix to bring you a dope original movie that will be released soon. The formula starring two of my favorite actors, John Boyega and Robert De Niro.
“This is the story of a young man from Detroit who becomes an international racer in the world of Formula 1 under the supervision of his mentor with old crowd.”
Boyega shot to fame Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, and reconsidered his role as Finn in The Last Jedi and The rise of Skywalker.
The film is the first Hollywood production since then based on contemporary Grand Prix races Bobby Deerfield, starring Al Pacino and including footage recorded during the 1976 season.