Channing Tatum to star in Brad Pitt-produced Isle of Man TT film

Motorsport has well and truly captured the imagination of Hollywood. On the heels of the F1 summer blockbuster, which stars Brad Pitt as a driver for the fictional APX GP team, the A-lister will turn his attention to a new movie centered around one of the most challenging and possibly deadly races in the world — the Isle of Man TT, also known as the Tourist Trophy races. 

Channing Tatum has been tapped to star in the project, which was picked up by Amazon MGM Studios, while Pitt will produce the film with his company Plan B Entertainment. The Magic Mike actor is a bike racing enthusiast, and has even travelled to the Isle of Man for the TT races in the past. He’s also appeared in several motorsport-adjacent movies, including the 2005 film, Supercross and the 2017 Steven Soderbergh-directed NASCAR flick, Logan Lucky.

No additional details have been revealed about the plot or characters, however Tatum’s producing partner Reid Carolin has signed on to direct, after making his directorial debut with the 2022 comedy drama ‘Dog.’ Carolin will also co-write the script with Bryan Johnson and Jason Kellar, who was involved in the Oscar-nominated Ford v Ferrari film, which centered on the infamous 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

The announcement coincides with the news that Box to Box - the company behind Netflix’s F1 smash Drive to Survive - filmed a corresponding docuseries about the event during last year’s TT races. The four-part series, featuring 45-minute episodes, will also be distributed by Amazon, and likely act as a behind-the-scenes teaser for the film. The event promoter was heavily involved in the project, which will offer “never-before-seen access to the riders,” according to Deadline. 

Track action, Isle of Man TT

Photo by: Honda

The Isle of Man TT is the world’s oldest continuously running motorsport event, known for its challenging 37.73-mile circuit, with tight corners, steep inclines, and difficult terrain that has famously claimed many riders' lives. The series will explore “what drives these extreme riders to take such risks” in one of the world’s most dangerous racing events. It will also examine the “consequences of this commitment, not only for them but for those around them.”

It was reported that all parties wanted to ensure both the film and docuseries were packaged together, despite the fact a movie with Tatum and Pitt attached could have “easily sold somewhere on its own.” Amazon MGM Studios proved to be “the perfect fit given the global reach the studio could give to both the film and docuseries.”