F1 brehs, was there a good reason for making a movie about Lauda/Hunt over Senna/Prost?
serious question, im only a fringe F1 fan and i was fed the senna kool aid when i lived in his old neighborhood
Good reason? Eh, probably not. Senna/Prost isn't the most tragic F1 story, but it has that amazing mix of tragedy, success, and character that just begs to be exploited. I think what Ron Howard would have seen though is a story that's been done to death, even if not on a grand scale. Also, with Prost and Senna, you're going to have to do some character embellishment, as neither were shining beacons of charisma. Senna was the quiet intense type who only boiled over vocally when pushed, and Prost was very, very, very, very, very, very French. He'd make the most dismissive and damning comments at barely over a whisper.
James Hunt is THE character in F1 history. Like, they'll probably turn him down for the movie. This is a guy who basically sold his wife for a million dollars. Dude would be hung the fukk over, puking his guts out in the garage before a race. Doing amazing amounts of coke. fukking in closets minutes before he was due on track. Showing up to red carpet events rocking no shoes with his dog in tow. But in the car, he was just a natural.
Lauda, just the complete polar opposite. The intensed, focused type, but he was very vocal throughout his career. Then add in they were roommates before they both made it, and the tragedy and triumph of their battle in '76, and I can see why Howard chose it.
Senna and Prost's story, on the track, is probably better. But Lauda and Hunt are infinitely more interesting people. Senna and Prost are the type of brehs you read books about and become fascinated by as people break down the nuances in their character. They're not meant for two hours.