Can it possibly match the drama in Drive to Survive?
The Formula One Group will not rest until it has all media niches covered and has now announced a brand-new scripted television series starring Felicity Jones (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, On the Basis of Sex, and The Theory Of Everything) called One.
F1's majority stakeholder is Liberty Media, also responsible for the beloved Drive to Survive. With the reality-based melodrama segment covered, F1 quickly moved to accommodate Hollywood. Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeves are working on a high-profile film and documentary, respectively, so the logical next step is a scripted melodrama. At least this time, we know it's fictional and not some clever editing used to make Max Verstappen look like F1's antagonist.
Aston Martin
According to Deadline, One will be a family drama set in the high-stakes world of F1. It will follow a family-owned F1 team trying to make it in the sport. Thankfully, there's a lot of real-life inspiration to tap into. Frank Williams ran a successful family operation for years, though Claire Williams eventually cashed out. More recently, we've seen the Andretti family trying to get into the business and the pushback they have received from snooty European teams.
Jones is English, so the Williams link would match up. Then again, she did a fantastic job portraying Ruth Bader Ginsburg, so it could go in any direction.
Jones will star in and produce the series. Other producers include F1 and the people behind Band of Brothers and True Detective. Once the writers' strike is concluded, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Children of Men, Iron Man, and The Expanse) will write the script.
This is a serious collection of heavy hitters, which makes it hard to be cynical about the series.
F1
“It is an honor to be part of this unique and exciting partnership with Formula 1,” said Jones. “The high stakes world of F1 continually delivers edge-of-your-seat drama, and to have the opportunity to create a show based in this world is a thrilling prospect.”
Like the unnamed F1 movie, One will likely use footage captured during the season. But because this is a more behind-the-scenes look at the sport, the actual races will probably only feature in the background. Getting the road-legal car casting right is far more critical, which is why we're recommending Jones drive an Aston Martin DB12. Nobody messes with a beautiful woman in an Aston Martin. The actress already has a relationship with Aston Martin, so perhaps Fernando Alonso will have a cameo.
“Felicity is one of the most talented and engaging actresses in the world,” said Isabelle Stewart, Head of Original Content Formula 1. “We are thrilled to partner with her to bring the glamorous, high-pressure, and competitive inner workings of the world of Formula 1 to life for audiences across the globe.”
Aston Martin
Keyword: Felicity Jones Will Star In New Fictional Formula 1 Drama