Hollywood is heading back to the starting grid with ‘Maserati: The Brothers’ an upcoming motorsport biopic about the family behind one of Italy’s most famous automotive marques. Filmed in Italy, the production reportedly recreated dozens of 1920s and 1930s race cars for the screen.
The film stars Michele Morrone as Alfieri Maserati, Salvatore Esposito as Bindo Maserati, and Lorenzo De Moor as Carlo Maserati. Never heard of them? Well this flick has a supporting cast of Hollywood heavyweights including Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, Andy Garcia and Jessica Alba to tempt you into the cinema!
The story follows the Maserati family from its early workshop days into international motor racing, with particular attention paid to the family’s desire to win the Indianapolis 500. Spoiler alert, Maserati won the race in 1939 and 1940 with Wilbur Shaw driving the 8CTF ‘Boyle Special‘ and that achievement that remains one of the greatest chapters in the company’s history.
While this is supposed to be a historical biopic, there is some Hollywood fantasy storytelling going on. Carlo Maserati died before the company was founded, and Alfieri died years before the Indianapolis victories. By then, the surviving brothers had sold Maserati to the Orsi family, although the other brother Ernesto Maserati remained heavily involved and designed the 8CTF.
‘Maserati: The Brothers‘ was directed by Robert Moresco, who also directed ‘Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend’ which was just a terrible film. Italian producer Andrea Iervolino also continues his s run of automotive biopics, which included the Michael Mann directed ‘Ferrari‘.
Whether Maserati lands closer to Lamborghini or Ferrari in quality remains to be seen, but with this cast, period machinery and genuine racing history, it certainly has our attention. A North American release date has not yet been announced.