Cinematic history is packed with what-ifs: the roles passed up, the scripts gathering dust, and the dream pairings stuck in neutral. Hollywood’s love for speed, spectacle, and stardom has fueled some legendary near misses. And when it involves Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and a roaring racetrack, the alternate universe feels especially fast and furious. Now, Pitt’s latest revelation has fans slamming on the brakes in disbelief.

While Pitt and Cruise seemed ready to burn rubber on-screen, an unexpected roadblock sent their racing dream skidding into the what-could-have-been lane.

In a revelation that deserves its own pit crew, Brad Pitt told The National he and Tom Cruise were once locked in for Ford v Ferrari. But the dream team crashed spectacularly when Cruise found out Carroll Shelby “would not be driving much.” For the Mission: Impossible star, apparently, a lead role without high-speed stunts was like popcorn without butter, technically there, but lacking soul. Enter Christian Bale and Matt Damon to save the day under James Mangold’s watchful eye.

The throttle may have jammed back then, but Brad Pitt has not parked his racing ambitions. While hyping F1, he teased the idea of revisiting Tom Cruise’s cult classic, Days of Thunder. “I would want to drive again, selfishly speaking,” he admitted, picturing his F1 alter ego Sonny Hayes breaking speed records on Bonneville Salt Flats. Fans, meanwhile, are already building fantasy lineups faster than a Daytona lap. Imagine Pitt and Cruise as aging rivals with a need for speed. Pure box office numbers.

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While Brad Pitt dreams of breaking speed records, his next pit stop involves a stuntman, a comeback, and enough cool to make leather jackets feel underdressed.

When he is not envisioning speed records, Brad Pitt is revving up other fan-favorite roles. Netflix has officially greenlit The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth, a spin-off of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Filming kicks off in July 2025, with a 2026 release in sight. Pitt will reprise his stuntman-turned-cult-hero, this time with even more swagger, danger, and quiet cool. It seems Cliff Booth has traded bar fights and Hollywood drama for his own big-screen ride.

For those who prefer Brad Pitt at a simmer instead of a sprint, The Riders is next on his slate. This A24 thriller follows a man’s desperate European search for his missing wife. With Edward Berger steering the ship and David Kajganich scripting, expect an emotional rollercoaster rather than an adrenaline rush. Filming starts in early 2026, giving Pitt fans plenty of time to prepare for the feels. Prestige cinema, coming in hot.

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What are your thoughts on Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise’s near-miss Ford v Ferrari and that Days of Thunder tease? Let us know in the comments below.