Movie director Joseph Kosinski made the shocking decision to cut an actress from “F1,” the summer blockbuster hitting the theaters in late June.
The movie staff announced Simone Ashley, known for her role in Bridgerton, as part of the movie’s cast, along with Brad Pitt and Damson Idris.
She joined the filming of the movie, though her role was omitted from the picture. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Kosinski explained why he cut her role from the final product that will be released in theaters on June 27.
“It happens on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use. There were two or three storylines that ultimately didn’t make into the final cut,” he said.
“But Simone, she’s an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer, and I would love to work with her again.”
The director didn’t explain what her storyline was. Ashley hasn’t spoken about the filmmakers cutting her part from the movie.
Brad Pitt, Joseph Kosinski, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, and Jerry Bruckheimer pose for photo, on the F1 movie Red Carpet at Parque Toreo on June 9, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. Brad Pitt, Joseph Kosinski, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, and Jerry Bruckheimer pose for photo, on the F1 movie Red Carpet at Parque Toreo on June 9, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. Photo by Medios y Media/Getty Images
She previously shared her excitement over the filming of “F1,” describing the exhilarating process:
“You had to work as a team. Sometimes we literally had one take for certain shots. Like, you’d see on the call sheet eight minutes to get this one thing because we were shooting alongside the races,” Ashley told Who What Wear back in March.
“It was amazing, the adrenaline. It was kind of like theater. It felt so live.”
Kosinski is an accomplished director, having created the famous Top Gun franchise. Movie critics and fans acclaim both air-bound military movies for their action scenes and thrills, making Kosinski the ideal pick for an action-packed racing film.
“F1” tells the story of a retired F1 driver, Sonny Hayes, returning to the grid after retiring from the sport.
He left following a tragic accident, but his former teammate, Ruben, needs help with his F1 team – APXGP.
The racing outfit is struggling to survive. Ruben needs Hayes to help mentor Joshua Pearce, the team’s young racing talent, who is fast but still rough around the edges.
Brad Pitt assumes the role of Hayes, while Damson Idris plays Pearce in the film.
Apple Films produced the movie, sparing no expense in its development. They captured scenes at actual racetracks, featuring current-day drivers and teams, to create a modern depiction of the sport.
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton serves as an executive producer on the film, providing an experienced voice in the movie’s development.
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