They were both blessed with rugged good looks, enjoyed successful Hollywood careers, and a shared passion for motorsport.
After Brad Pitt, 60, donned his leathers and a pair of aviator sunglasses at Silverstone this weekend for the Grand Prix, many couldn’t help but draw parallels with the ‘king of cool’ who died in 1980 at the age of 50.
The Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood actor is playing veteran driver Sonny Hayes in the upcoming Formula One flick, which will be called F1, 53 years after McQueen starred as Michael Delaney in racing 1971 movie Le Mans.
Meanwhile their acting careers also took the same direction as both Hollywood hunks played the leading role in warm films, with McQueen starring in The War Lover in 1962, while Pitt played U.S. Army Sergeant Don ‘Wardaddy’ Collier in 2014’s Fury.
Brad Pitt , 60, (left) is slowly morphing into the American actor and racing driver dubbed the ‘King of cool’ Steve McQueen, (right) who died in 1980 aged 50
The similarities don’t stop there, as both actors starred in similar romantic western films. In 1994, Brad starred alongside Anthony Hopkins, in Legends of the Fall.
Meanwhile 14 years earlier, in 1980 McQueen, who was once the most highly paid actor in Hollywood, played a legendary lawman, outlaw and gunfighter in American Western Tom Horn.
He was dubbed the ‘King of cool’ because his personal brand consisted of being rebellious, mysterious, attractive.
McQueen was a known as a true rebel (as opposed to a PR creation) who fascinated everyone even off screen.
He was known as a petrol head with a need for speed, racing cars, motorcycles and planes.
He was an accomplished race car driver, competing in events such as the 12 hours of Sebring and the British Touring Car Championship. He also participated in motorcycle racing, his most notable race being the international six days trial.
Fans are also fascinated by Brad’s antics off screen, from his love life, divorce from Angelina Jolie, legal battles and even his interesting style.
The similarities don’t stop there as both actors have starred in similar romantic western films. In 1994, Brad starred alongside Anthony Hopkins , in Legends of the Fall
14 years earlier, in 1980 McQueen, who was once the most highly paid actor in Hollywood, played a legendary lawman, outlaw and gunfighter in American Western Tom Horn
McQueen and Pitt have also been known to step behind the camera, as Brad is credited as a Producer on his F1 movie, McQueen attempted to make the Formula 1 film, Day of The Champion, in 1965.
Unfortunately for McQueen, a parallel movie, John Frankenheimer’s Grand Prix, beat him to the punch which played a central role in the cancellation of his passion project.
The interesting story of the movie that never made it to cinema screens was told in the Sky documentary Steve McQueen: The Lost Movie.
The documentary showed never-seen-footage from the project, including an opening shot for McQueen’s movie.
Hopefully Brad’s new F1 flick, which will be co-produced by Lewis Hamilton and is due to be released in June 2025, will not suffer the same fate as McQueen’s The Champion.
It appears it is all systems go for Brad as he blended in among the professional racing drivers while filming a scene for the Formula One film at the iconic Silverstone circuit earlier this month.
The Hollywood star was clad in a helmet and racing suit as he prepared to hit the track for high-speed driving during day two of the British Grand Prix festival.
Only a sliver of Brad’s face could be seen as he sat in the car with his helmet ahead of the gruelling practice session during one of the most legendary sport events of the year.
Steve was dubbed the ‘King of cool’ because his personal brand consisted of being rebellious, mysterious, attractive
Brad is also seen as a Hollywood hunk off screen with fans fascinated with his personal life off screen (pictured: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood scene)
The Hollywood hunks played the leading role in warm film The War Lover in 1962
Meanwhile Pitt played U.S. Army Sergeant Don ‘Wardaddy’ Collier in 2014’s war movie Fury
McQueen was known as a petrol head with a need for speed, racing cars, motorcycles and planes (pictured in Bullitt, 1968)
Fans are also fascinated by Brad’s anitics off screen, from his love life, divorce from Angelina Jolie, legal battles and even his interesting style (pictured in 2008’s Benjamin Button)
Steve played Thomas Crown in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair alongside with Faye Dunaway
Brad has had a vast variety of roles throughout his career even playing Mr. O’Brien in The Tree of Life in 2011
After filming for the movie was delayed amid the US actors’ and writers’ strike last year, Brad, was spotted racing an adapted Formula Two car between practice sessions as they made a start on the action scenes.
F1 chiefs are hoping the film will follow the popularity of Netflix’s Drive to Survive series. Brad plays the role of a veteran driver Sonny Hayes, who is returning to the F1 grid after a long absence.
Alongside his fictional rookie team-mate Joshua Pierce – played by British actor Damson Idris – the Fight Club star lined up with the sport’s 20 drivers prior to last year’s race at Silverstone.
Meanwhile multi-world champion Lewis, 39, has been heavily involved in the script to ensure the film is as authentic as possible.
Joseph Kosinski, the man behind Top Gun: Maverick, is directing the film, while Jerry Bruckheimer – who also worked on the Tom Cruise blockbuster – is listed as a producer.
