Olivia Wilde’s name appears in connection with just about every female role going these days as she makes all the wish lists (except for maybe Mrs Thatcher – we’re pretty sure Streep had that one locked down) and is considered for most movies. Now it appears she’s bagged yet another role, winning the chance to play supermodel Suzy Miller in Ron Howard’s Formula One drama Rush.
The film focuses on the intense sporting rivalry between champion racers James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Nikki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl). Such was their need for speed and competition that Lauda even left hospital early after a near fatal crash just so he could race against the Brit.
But Hunt’s life was also complicated off the track, with the beautiful Miller falling for him and despite Hunt’s legendarily womanizing ways, they tied the knot in 1974. Yet it was Miller, not Hunt, who would dissolve the marriage after getting romantic with his friend, actor Richard Burton. Instead of coming to blows, Hunt and Burton actually negotiated a deal whereby the thesp would pay the $1 million divorce settlement and marry Miller.
And though Burton only makes a small appearance in the film, Howard is looking to a big name to take the role, approaching his Beautiful Mind star Russell Crowe. It remains to be seen if he agrees.
Howard, working from a script by Frost/Nixon’s Peter Morgan, will kick off directing the pic early next year.