In a new interview, the 39-year-old racing driver recalls befriending the actor and lobbying the latter to cast him in a hypothetical 'Top Gun' sequel long before the film materialized.
- April 8, 2024
AceShowbiz - Lewis Hamilton has opened up about one of his regrets. In a new interview with GQ, the British racing driver admitted that he wished he didn't turn down Tom Cruise's offer to star in his movie, "Top Gun: Maverick".
During the sit-down, the 39-year-old recalled befriending the actor and lobbying the latter to cast him in a hypothetical "Top Gun" sequel long before the film materialized. "I will even be a janitor," he remembered telling the action star. "Just let me be in it."
However, once Tom offered him a role as a pilot, Lewis decided to pass the opportunity because of some reasons. "Firstly, I hadn't even had, like, an acting lesson," he explained. "And I don't want to be the one that lets this movie down. And then secondly, I just really didn't have the time to dedicate to it."
"I remember having to tell Joe and Tom - and it broke my heart," he further elaborated. "And then I regretted it, naturally, when they show me the movie and it's: It could've been me!"
Having learned his lesson, Lewis signed to work with Joseph Kosinski on an upcoming Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt. He serves as an executive producer in the project.
"My point was: Guys, this movie needs to be so authentic," he stated. "There's two different fan groups that we have - like, the old originals, who from the day they're born hearing the Grand Prix music every weekend and watching with their families, to the new generation that just learned about it today through Netflix."
"I felt my job really has been to try to call BS. 'This would never happen.' 'This is how it would be.' 'This is how it could happen," he continued. "Just giving them advice about what racing is really about and what, as a racing fan, would appeal and what would not."
