Hollywood strike shuts down Brad Pitt F1 film

The ongoing actors and writers strike in Hollywood has temporarily shut down filming of the Formula 1 epic produced by Apple Original Films and starring Brad Pitt.

Filming for the blockbuster epic directed by Top Gun: Maverick's Joseph Kocinski had started in earnest at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, with fictitious F1 team Apex GP blending all weekend in to the event's décor.

Members of the Screen Actors Guild joined their colleagues from the Writers Guild of America to protest overpaid studio executives while the lowest-paid members of SAG-AFTRA – impoverished actors and writers – struggle to make ends meet.

But the guild's concerns also extend to pay and royalties from streaming services and to the use of artificial intelligence in entertainment.

As a Hollywood A-lister and a member of the Actors Guild, Brad Pitt is showing his solidarity with his acting and writing peers.

"All filming is shut down for now," a source told NBC News. "Brad had really enjoyed himself, but he is definitely a very loyal member of the union."

• Read also: Pitt having 'the time of my life' filming blockbuster F1 movie

The F1 film's production crews were scheduled to film at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa next week where Carlin Motorsport, which is handling the running of APXGP's two mock-up F1 cars that appear in the film, was due to be present.

While negotiations are ongoing between SAG-AFTRA's leaders and the studios, guild members are bracing for a long-drawn-out summer of strikes.

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