Over a year ago Christian Bale was linked to Michael Mann’s movie project about the rivalry between Ferrari and Maserati. But word is that Bale exited the project. Fast forward to now and there are two front runners to star in the film. Hugh Jackman is apparently being courted to play Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the illustrious Italian automobile maker. Noomi Rapace is in talks to play the automotive figure’s estranged wife Linda.
I’ll be the first to tell you that the idea of a Michael Mann film exploring Ferrari sounds very intriguing. I mean anything directed by Michael Mann seems intriguing but add the storyline of Ferrari and race cars with a Michael Mann twist? Awesome. But here’s my beef with Jackman.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Hugh Jackman. I mean when you talk man crushes, Hugh Jackman is at the top of my list. However, I never bought into his accents. To this day his American accent on film bothers me. It’s got that “trying to talk Southern” twang to it that many English actors do. The guy who is guilty of it more than anyone is Tim Roth. He’s awful. I know Hugh’s an Aussi but he doesn’t do American very well. So while I think Jackman can play anyone, I’m just having a very hard time believing he can do an Italian accent successfully.
However, that wouldn’t stop me from seeing the film. After all, it’s Michael Mann.
Here’s the bio for Enzo Ferrari according to the company website:
Enzo Ferrari was born in Modena on February 18th 1898 and died on August 14th 1988. He devoted his entire life to designing and building sports cars and, of course, to the track. Having been made an official Alfa Romeo driver in 1924, within five years he had gone on to found the Scuderia Ferrari on Viale Trento Trieste in Modena which assisted mostly gentlemen drivers in racing their cars.
In 1938, Enzo Ferrari was appointed head of Alfa Corse but quit the position in 1939 to set up his own company, Auto Avio Costruzioni, which operated out of the old Scuderia buildings.
Ferrari has garnered over 5,000 victories on the world’s tracks and roads, becoming a modern-day legend in the process. In order to meet growing market demand, Enzo Ferrari sold the Fiat Group a 50% stake in the company in 1969, a figure that rose to 90% in 1988.
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