Damson Idris Sparks Frenzy With Rumored Marvel Debut—What We Know So Far

British-Nigerian actor Damson Idris is shifting from the streets of South Central L.A. in FX’s “Snowfall” to the most glamorous paddocks in motorsport as the co-lead of Apple Original Films’ high-octane drama “F1.” The studio confirmed that the film—currently titled “F1”—will roar into theaters and IMAX on 25 June 2025 before streaming globally on Apple TV+. In the movie Idris plays rookie sensation Joshua Pearce, a prodigiously fast driver brought in to revive the fortunes of the fictional Apex GP team led by Brad Pitt’s veteran racer Sonny Hayes. Real-world F1 outfits Mercedes and Ferrari supplied cars refitted with six on-board cinema cameras, allowing Idris to drive at race speed during the 2024 British, Hungarian and Las Vegas Grands Prix to capture authentic footage that Hamilton says “will make viewers feel like they’re inside the cockpit.” Pitt has called the shoot “one of the most extraordinary experiences of my career”. The scale is equally extraordinary. Apple is reportedly investing more than $300 million in the production, eclipsing the budgets of many recent superhero blockbusters. Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) directs from a script by Ehren Kruger, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton serving as producer and technical advisor—a first for a narrative feature in the sport’s 74-year history. For Idris, 33, the project marks his biggest mainstream role to date and positions him as Britain’s next breakout leading man. After earning critical praise for six seasons of “Snowfall,” he stole scenes opposite Anthony Mackie in “Outside the Wire” and drew headlines off-screen for his high-profile relationship—now amicably ended—with model Lori Harvey. Sources close to the actor say he has spent months in the simulator with Mercedes engineers and completed FIA-mandated track training to perform many of his own driving stunts, adding authenticity that hardcore fans demand. Plot details remain tightly guarded, but insiders hint at a redemption arc that pits Pitt and Idris against a ruthless defending champion while spotlighting the sport’s struggle between tradition and the Netflix-era thirst for spectacle. Expect cameos from current grid stars; cameras caught Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris filming paddock walk-and-talks at Silverstone last summer. A teaser is rumored to drop during the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, primed to ignite search traffic months ahead of the theatrical rollout. Industry analysts already predict “F1” could become Apple’s first $500 million global hit, capitalizing on the sport’s surging U.S. popularity and Idris’s rapidly growing fan base. Early test screenings reportedly praised his chemistry with Pitt and the “heart-in-mouth” realism of wheel-to-wheel action shot in native 6K. Awards strategists note that Kosinski’s last film scored six Oscar nominations; a charismatic Idris performance could put him firmly in the Best Supporting Actor conversation. Between the film’s blockbuster budget, Hamilton’s behind-the-scenes clout and Idris’s ascendant star power, “F1” is shaping up to be 2025’s must-watch event for cinephiles and motorsport devotees alike. Keep engines revved: principal photography wraps this month, and Idris has already hinted on social media that the full trailer is “coming sooner than you think.” Search volume for the actor’s name is accelerating—much like the career trajectory of the man himself.