Adam Driver Replaces Hugh Jackman In Upcoming 'Ferrari' Biopic

Actor Adam Driver is headed back to the big screen!

After appearing in three blockbuster films in 2021, the "Star Wars" alum best known for playing Kylo Ren and the redeemed Ben Solo in a galaxy far, far away has been cast in the upcoming film "Ferrari."

According to Deadline, the "Girls" actor has replaced "The Greatest Showman" actor Hugh Jackman in the lead role. Driver will play the titular role of racing mogul Enzo Ferrari in the upcoming biopic about his life.

"Heat" director Michael Mann will be bringing the film to life. Joining Driver in the cast are Oscar winner Penélope Cruz and "Big Little Lies" star Shailene Woodley. Cruz will play Enzo’s wife, Laura. Woodley will play Enzo's mistress, Lina Lardi.

Mann is looking to start filming the big-budget flick in Italy in May 2022.

Mann has been working on the upcoming biopic for two decades. The story is set during the summer of 1957, when Ferrari is locked in a financial crisis. The company he started with his wife is facing bankruptcy. While mourning one son and with another one on the way, Ferrari decides to take a chance and try to win big by entering the iconic Mille Miglia race, which takes place one thousand miles across Italy.

The script was written by "The Italian Job" writer Troy Kennedy Martin. The adapted screenplay is based on the book "Enzo Ferrari - The Man and the Machine," written by Brock Yates.

Michael Mann was enthusiastic about his A-list cast, saying, “Being able to have these wonderfully talented artists, actors Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz and Shailene Woodley, bring to life these unique characters on location in Modena and the Emilia-Romagna is a vision fulfilled.”

Adam Fogelson, Chairman of STXfilms Motion Picture Group, added, “Ferrari is so much more than a story about a man and his machine. It is an extraordinary and emotional story that Michael has been developing for years and the entire team at STX is looking forward to the start of production with this dream cast and filmmaker."

"Adam Driver is one of the most talented and fascinating actors working today, and we could not be more thrilled to pair him with Penélope, whose legendary career builds with every role she takes," he added.

Although Driver failed to scoop up an Oscar nomination for "House of Gucci" - leading lady Lady Gaga didn't get one either - Driver has been nominated for two Academy Awards. He received his first nomination for his role in "BlacKkKlansman" and his second for Netflix's "Marriage Story."

Looking ahead, Driver will star in Sony Pictures’ sci-fi thriller "65," as well as Netflix’s "White Noise" with "Marriage Story" director Noah Baumbach, marking yet another collaboration between the pair.

In 2021, Driver showed off his range in three separate films: the musical "Annette," the medieval drama "The Last Duel," and the "House of Gucci" biopic. The last two films were both directed by Ridley Scott.

The romantic musical “Annette” appeared in theatres on August 6, 2021. The Leos Carax-directed film features Driver as a controversial stand-up comedian named Henry McHenry who falls in love with opera singer Ann Defrasnoux (Marion Cotillard). However, their marriage is rocked by scandal, and things take a dramatic turn when he discovers that his daughter has an unusual ability. The film is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

The medieval drama features an A-list cast of Matt Damon as Sir Jean de Carrouges, Driver as Squire Jacques Le Gris, Ben Affleck as Count Pierre d’Alencon, and Jodie Comer as Marguerite de Carrouges. Comer appeared in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” as young Rey’s mother, although she shared no scenes with Driver or Rey (Daisy Ridley).

The film tells the same story of assault from three different perspectives. Carrouges (Damon) marries a woman named Marguerite (Comer) that Le Gris (Driver) becomes smitten with. After Le Gris assaults her, she steps forward to confront him, which results in Carrouges and Le Gris engaging in a trial by combat and a fight to the death, which could also have deadly consequences for Marguerite.

The film is currently available to stream on HBO Max.

The biographical crime drama portrays the aftermath of the 1995 murder of Maurizio Gucci (Driver) by his ex-wife Patrizia Gucci (Gaga). The cast includes Al Pacino, Salma Hayek, and an almost unrecognizable Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci. The film is available for purchase or rent on video-on-demand.