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Ron Howard's Rush gets second trailer in a week

Seyth Miersma — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:44:00 EST

In this, second and latest installment of trailers for the upcoming Ron Howard movie, Rush, we get a glimpse of how Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl will handle there respective roles as Hunt and Lauda. Yes, it seems there may actually be a bit of acting tossed in between racing in the rain, escaping fiery crashes and the like.

Perhaps more important (you know, as far as second trailers for movies that are five months away can be "important"), is the chance to catch the lovely leading ladies for a moment. Natalie Dormer, Olivia Wilde, Joséphine de La Baume and Alexandra Maria Lara all take turns taking our breath away. Enjoy the (longer) trailer, below.

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Ron Howard's Rush gets second trailer in a week originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Howard's Rush trailer sets stage for an epic F1 drama

Seyth Miersma — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, TV/Movies

The story of the 1975 Formula One World Championship - and the rivalry cum friendship between Niki Lauda and James Hunt that lies at its core - is one step closer to making its Hollywood splash. The first theatrical trailer of Rush has cropped up on YouTube, and it's safe to say that we're more excited than ever to watch the movie when it hits theaters on September 20.

Based on some of the cuts we see here - Lauda's infamous crash at the Nürburgring and a dark and sodden start to the 1976 Japanese Gran Prix - it appears that no effect expense was spared to make the Ron Howard film as convincing as possible. Should performances from Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth stand up, Rush could be more than just a diversion for hardcore racing fans. Follow on below for the official trailer.

Continue reading Ron Howard's Rush trailer sets stage for an epic F1 drama

Ron Howard's Rush trailer sets stage for an epic F1 drama originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch the filming of Niki Lauda's 'Ring crash for Ron Howard's Rush

Zach Bowman — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Etc., Europe, Videos, Celebrities

The production crew for Ron Howard's Rush recently stopped by the Nürburgring to recreate Niki Lauda's infamous Formula One crash during the 1976 Nürburgring GP. Lauda's car suffered a catastrophic failure on the second lap, launching him into the guardrail and placing his crumpled machine in the path of Brett Lunger's Surtees-Ford. The two collided and it wasn't long before Lauda was trapped in burning wreckage. Lunger and a handful of other racers fought to pull Lauda from the flames. Those on hand succeeded in rescuing the Austrian, and while he lapsed into a coma and suffered disfiguring burns, he was back in the cockpit within two months.

Just before the race, Lauda had pressed for a boycott of the dangerous race. The area in which the crash occurred is now known as Lauda Links.

Rush will follow the volatile 1976 F1 season and two of the primary characters that defined the year: Lauda and James Hunt. Hit the jump to see bystander video of the stuntmen in action.

Continue reading Watch the filming of Niki Lauda's 'Ring crash for Ron Howard's Rush

Watch the filming of Niki Lauda's 'Ring crash for Ron Howard's Rush originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Howard's Rush caught filming at 'Ring

Chris Paukert — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Etc., Videos, Celebrities

Good motorsports films don't come up terribly often, but now and again, we get lucky. In 2011, we were graced with the very fine Senna documentary, and it appears there's another period Formula One racing piece that could be worth watching on the silver screen soon: Rush.

We've known for some time that this project, which chronicles the 1976 F1 season-long battle between Austria's Niki Lauda and Britain's James Hunt, was in the cards, and we also knew that Ron Howard had signed on as producer. Howard, you may recall, is the Academy Award-winning force responsible for such films as A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon. But we hadn't heard much about filming getting underway - until now.

Thanks to these new photos taken at Germany's Nürburgring by our friends at PistonSpy, we now see that work on the film has begun. We have to say, James Hunt's Marlboro-liveried McLaren looks particularly fetching in these photos, and it must be a thrill to see and hear these vintage F1 cars lapping the legendary Nordschleife.

We're already cringing in advance for Howard's recreation of Lauda's massive crackup at the German Grand Prix, a crash that saw him sever his right ear and suffer facial burns (you can see in-period video footage of the fiery crash after the jump). Lauda would return after missing just two races and storm back into the points chase in pursuit of James Hunt and his McLaren. Hunt would eventually win the World Championship by a single point. For dozens of additional images, be sure to check out PistonSpy at the link below.

Continue reading Ron Howard's Rush caught filming at 'Ring

Ron Howard's Rush caught filming at 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Niki Lauda's race-winning 1974 Ferrari 312 B3

Noah Joseph — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Auctions, Ferrari, Racing

Every year, each Formula One team on the grid designs a brand-new car and builds a handful of them for use at grands prix around the world. So what happens to the old ones? Well, the less important ones might get scrapped, unfortunately. The more important ones might find their way into museum collections. But then there's a whole class of collectors who buy them for use at historic racing events or private track days.

Those collectors lust after opportunities like this one: to own a grand prix-winning car driven by a World Champion for a team no less celebrated than Scuderia Ferrari. This 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 was the very same that Niki Lauda drove to the checkered flag at the Dutch Grand Prix and Spanish Grand Prix that year. And while it would have been worth more if those races had helped Lauda secure the championship that year, unfortunately, a series of DNFs relegated him to fourth place in the standings, returning the following year to win his first title.

Just the same, the car is now based in California, has been fully backed and certified by the factory, and is on sale now on eBay Motors. Check it out in the image gallery and follow the link to the auction page for a closer look. Thinking of bidding? Be quick about it - there's mere hours left on the auction.

eBay Find of the Day: Niki Lauda's race-winning 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Howard's Rush gears up to relive Lauda/Hunt showdown

Noah Joseph — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

We know the feeling. You watch a great movie, and then you want more. That's how trilogies are born. Unfortunately, that won't be possible with Asif Kapadia's celebrated documentary Senna, but that doesn't mean we can't have some more racing flicks in the pipeline.

One of the most promising is a project undertaken by Ron Howard that will look at the legendary 1978 Formula One World Championship, in which Niki Lauda suffered a heavy, fiery crash at the Nürburgring only to come back and challenge James Hunt for the title.

Now we've received word on who will star under Howard's direction: Lauda will be played by Daniel Brühl (who you may recognize from Inglorious Basterds and The Bourne Ultimatum), while Chris Hemsworth (he of Thor fame, pictured above) will play Hunt. Romanian-German actress Alexandra Maria Lara will also star in the film that will (hopefully) make us forget all about Sly Stallone's Driven and challenge the likes of Grand Prix and Le Mans for space on the list of the best racing films of all time.

Ron Howard's Rush gears up to relive Lauda/Hunt showdown originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Howard signs on to direct Lauda biopic Rush

Noah Joseph — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Le Mans. Grand Prix. Senna. Even Days of Thunder. Legendary racing films all, but our list is preparing to grow by one more epic saga played out on the silver screen.

That project, as we reported last month, is set to focus on the battle between Niki Lauda and James Hunt in the 1978 Formula 1 World Championship, wherein Lauda suffered a devastating fiery crash at the Nürburgring, coming back to challenge Hunt in one of the closest title fights in racing history. The screenplay's been titled Rush, and now it's got a director.

Paul Greengrass of Bourne trilogy fame was reportedly interested in taking on the project, but the latest reports indicate that Ron Howard will be picking up the bull horn instead. The child actor-turned-director has been responsible for such legendary films as Cocoon, Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon.

While Howard works on that project, Steven Spielberg and his Dreamworks production company are reportedly considering a second film that would focus in on the life of James Hunt, the unabashed embodiment of male bravado who fought Lauda for the title down to the wire.

Ron Howard signs on to direct Lauda biopic Rush originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Director of Bourne films pondering F1 movie

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Celebrities

The driving scenes in the Bourne film series are top notch, arguably on the list of all-time great motoring action on the silver screen. Director Paul Greengrass is the man behind the second and third Bourne films, and he's looking for new projects. One of them would have Greengrass directing more vehicular action, and the subject is Formula One racing.

Greengrass is reportedly interested in a screenplay titled Rush. It's the story of Niki Lauda's 1976 racing season, which was nearly fatal. That season was also saw the intense rivalry between Lauda and British driver James Hunt reach a fever pitch.

There's no word on production time tables or interested acting talent. However, we expect that if Greengrass gets involved, the driving footage will be excellent.

Director of Bourne films pondering F1 movie originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Niki Lauda lines up on the grid for his own biopic

Noah Joseph — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.

With the Senna biopic now streaming to television sets everywhere, reports are coming in that another film is undergoing production that focuses on Niki Lauda.

The Austrian driver is a three-time Formula One World Champion and rated as one of the best of all time. His career spanned over the 1970s and 1980s, driving most notably for Ferrari, then coming out of retirement to score his third world championship with McLaren - a move that Michael Schumacher surely took to heart.

The film reportedly focuses on the 1976 championship, when Lauda crashed at the Nürburgring, losing his right ear and suffering severe burns to his face. He returned - spoiler alert! - just six weeks later having missed two grands prix, and only to lose the title to James Hunt by just one point.

The screenplay is reportedly being written by Peter Morgan, best known for his work on Frost/Nixon and The Queen. They're apparently still hunting for director and producers, but as for the actor who will play the lead role, Lauda himself reportedly quipped, "Anyone who is 25 or 26 with his right ear burnt off and dreams to be made up to look like me can start making plans."

Niki Lauda lines up on the grid for his own biopic originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 May 2011 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Space Cadet: Niki Lauda training to be an astronaut with Virgin Galactic?!

Noah Joseph — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

From left to right: Rubens Barrichello, Sir Richard Branson, Niki Lauda

The thing about racing careers is that they end rather early. And with world champions getting younger every year, that's not about to change. So after hitting their prime, some drivers choose to stick with it a while longer, some set up their own racing teams, driving schools or become commentators, while others embark upon entirely different second careers altogether. Former world champion Niki Lauda, for example, has done it all. After retiring from Formula One racing a double world champion in 1979, he came back in 1982 and won the championship again two years later. Then he retired from racing again, ran his own airline, acted as a consultant to Scuderia Ferrari, managed the Jaguar F1 team, became a commentator for German-language station RTL, and even wrote four books. But at 60 years-old, Lauda's about to embark on yet another career: becoming an astronaut.

The accomplished pilot - both on the track and as a commercial aviator - is training to fly the Virgin Atlantic low-orbit space craft. But this is hardly the only interaction between the space tourism firm and the world of Formula One. After considering a buyout, Richard Branson's Virgin group is sponsoring the Brawn GP team, whose cars ran at this past weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix with the Virgin Galactic logo, and Sir Richard himself was on hand to present Rubens Barrichello with his paid ticket on one of the company's flights. Sure beats Jenson Button's HondaJets, and may even prove a greater high than winning three out of four of this season's races... so far.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Space Cadet: Niki Lauda training to be an astronaut with Virgin Galactic?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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