A new series provisionally titled 'The Greatest Race on Earth' and a feature film around this year's Isle of Man TT races are being created by Hollywood superstars Brad Pitt and Channing Tatum's production companies in collaboration with the creators of Netflix's Drive to Survive Formula 1 documentary series.
The new TT series, which has been hinted at for some time, will be produced by Box To Box films - the group behind the hit Drive to Survive serious that has helped drive F1's global audience surge.
Box To Box will be joined by production companies Free Association (owned by Tatum) and Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, which has experience with two-wheeled documentaries in the past thanks to its work with Mark Neale to produce the cult MotoGP movie Hitting the Apex.
The series will be produced across the 2024 TT, with filming having already started before Monday evening's first practice session, and will feature a number of personalities and storylines from this year’s event.
"It’s a great privilege to be working with these partners on this extremely unique project,” said Box to Box producer James Gay-Rees, whose other credits include the critically acclaimed Senna documentary film.
“The Isle of Man TT is one of the most visceral, exhilarating and unusual events in the motorsport diary. We can’t wait to bring this incredible world to new audiences.”
“We dare anyone to find more awe-inspiring people, or a more breathtakingly vibrant world than The Isle of Man TT,” added Tatum and his his colleagues, who visited the TT in 2023.
“We’ve always been drawn to characters who push the edge of what’s possible, and this race is their Shangri-La. We’re deeply honoured to be part of the creative dream team telling the story of this legendary event, and can’t wait to finally share this mythical sport we love with audiences all across the globe.”
Distribution for the series, which has a planned 2025 release date, is still to be confirmed.
However, given Box to Box’s award-winning relationship with Netflix which in addition to Drive to Survive includes production of other sporting documentary series such as Unchained (detailing the Tour de France) and Full Contact (following the Six Nations rugby tournament), it would be little surprise if the streaming giant also picked up The Greatest Race on Earth, something that would bring the TT to a significant new audience.
As well as the series, the partners will also produce a feature film as part of their deal with the Isle of Man TT. That project will be helmed by veteran screenwriter Jason Keller, who scripted the four-time Oscar-nominated Ford v Ferrari film and attended last year’s TT alongside Tatum to gain a feel for it.
