Why Simone Ashley is walking the ‘F1' carpet — even though she was cut from the Brad Pitt movie
Simone Ashley was ready for her close-up at the London premiere of F1: The Movie on Monday night. The breakout Bridgerton star walked a red carpet shared by F1 leads Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Kerry Condon, as well as famous guests like Tom Cruise, Naomi Campbell, and Patrick Schwarzenegger.
But inside the theater was a different story. Last week, news broke that Ashley had been largely edited out of the Joseph Kosinski-directed, Jerry Bruckheimer-produced film. Per early reports, she is glimpsed briefly onscreen, but has no spoken dialogue in F1's theatrical cut.
More from GoldDerby
Sarah Michelle Gellar shares 'Buffy' reboot hopes: 'My dream is to bring back everyone who has died'
Benson Boone reviews are in: Critics flip off 'American Heart'
The Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt 'Interview With the Vampire' feud rumors, explained
Ashley's absence from the film has sparked debate online ahead of the movie's June 27 premiere. Here's what you need to know about her dropped storyline—and what it has in common with Kosinski's previous film, Top Gun: Maverick.for Warner Bros. Pictures
Ashley first vaulted into the public eye with a memorable supporting turn on the hit Netflix comedy Sex Education, but it was her enemies-to-lovers dance with Jonathan Bailey in Bridgerton's blockbuster second season that put her on Hollywood's radar. The Anglo-Indian actress subsequently booked a supporting role in The Little Mermaid and a star turn in the Prime Video rom-com Picture This. Her F1 appearance was announced in 2024.
"I have a very small part, but I'm grateful to be in that movie," Ashley told Elle last month, about her role. "I got to experience many Grands Prix. I don't think I'll ever do anything like that again."
But in the editing room, her part went from "very small" to almost nonexistent. Her absence was noted following early public screenings of F1, sparking online controversy about editing a prominent actress of color out of a major studio release.
Kosinski addressed the complaints in a recent interview with People, saying that Ashley's storyline was one of several that hit the cutting-room floor during post-production. "It happens on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use," he noted. "She's an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer, and I would love to work with her again."
Idris echoed those sentiments in an interview with Buzzfeed UK, suggesting that Ashley was intended to be a love interest for his character. "I've been cut out of movies, and these things happen," he added. "But the joy of it is that, I know she's gonna work with not only Joseph Kosinski again, but definitely with me again."
If Kosinki's response sounds vaguely familiar, it may be because the director offered a similar explanation for another dropped storyline featuring a performer of Asian descent during the Top Gun: Maverick press tour in 2022. The hugely popular sequel to 1986's Top Gun featured The Good Place fan-favorite Manny Jacinto among the new pilots that Cruise's flyboy Pete "Maverick" Mitchell puts through their aerial paces.
Similar to Ashley, though, the Filipino-Canadian actor is notably relegated to the periphery of the action in the second Top Gun with little to no dialogue. In an interview with Indiewire at the time, Kosinski said that he felt "terrible" about Jacinto's reduced role, emphasizing that the actor did shoot full scenes.
READ: 'F1: The Movie' reviews: Brad Pitt burns rubber with 'macho panache' in a high-octane thrill ride
"You just don't have room to fit everything in," he added. "You end up throwing out stuff that you are sure, when you're shooting it, will absolutely be in the movie. When you're coming down to the final cut and focusing on the story you're telling, stuff has to fall away for the good of the film."
While Jacinto remained largely silent during and after Top Gun: Maverick's release, he addressed the issue in a 2024 GQ interview while promoting his non-silent role in the Disney+ Star Wars series, The Acolyte, telling the magazine that his absence from the finished version wasn't "shocking."
"There was this sense of where the film was going [on set], like I can see them focusing the camera more on these [other] guys and not taking so much time on our scenes," he remarked. "Fortunately, it still was a great experience — you get to see this huge machine at work, see how Tom Cruise works, and you get to be a small part of this huge franchise."
Ashely has yet to discuss her missing F1 storyline in the press, but she praised the film in a post-premiere Instagram post, writing: "I couldn't have been prouder watching everyone shine on screen and on the carpet. ... I've come away with friendships and memories that I'll treasure forever."
Even as Ashley and Jacinto have found the bright side in their respective experiences, the similarities between F1 and Top Gun: Maverick remains a discussion point online — and in the industry at large when it comes to the representation of Asian actors onscreen.
"While disappointing, it's unfortunately not surprising to see storylines featuring Asian or Asian American characters cut from major films," Lisa Gold, executive director of the Asian American Arts Alliance tells Gold Derby. "It's important to recognize that this recurring pattern suggests stories about people of color are seen as expendable."
Citing statistics from a UCLA's 2023 Hollywood Diversity Report, Gold notes that Asians made up only 6.4 percent of film leads and only 3.4 percent of film directors that year. That's despite the fact that more than 7 percent of the U.S. population is Asian.
"This isn't about a lack of talent," Gold says. "There are countless skilled AAPI actors, directors, editors, producers, cinematographers, designers, and crew ready to contribute. These cuts send a message that their work and their stories are less valuable. We know that's not true."
Best of GoldDerby
Tom Cruise movies: 17 greatest films ranked worst to best
'It was wonderful to be on that ride': Christian Slater talks his beloved roles, from cult classics ('Heathers,' 'True Romance') to TV hits ('Mr. Robot,' 'Dexter: Original Sin')
'It almost killed me': Horror maestro Mike Flanagan looks back at career-making hits from 'Gerald's Game' to 'Hill House' to 'Life of Chuck'
Click here to read the full article.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Screen Geek
13 minutes ago
- Screen Geek
'28 Years Later' Director Comments On The Film's Zombie Nudity
The long-awaited sequel to the horror classic 28 Days Later and its original follow-up 28 Weeks Later is finally here. The new film, titled 28 Years Later , is an ambitious effort from the original creators of 28 Days Later and to demonstrate some of that, they have a new antagonist known as the 'Alpha' played by Chi Lewis-Parry. The character features some surprising nudity, however, that 28 Years Later director Danny Boyle opened up about. While speaking with ComicBook, Boyle discussed the character and the surprising male genitalia that was present with his appearances in the film. As it turns out, however, they legally couldn't show the actor's real genitalia – and so a life-like prosthetic was created instead. This was explained by Boyle who gave an interesting reason as to why. Here's what he shared with the outlet: 'This was a salutory moment via our intimacy coordinator that when you have a child of 12 present, all genitals, male and female, have to be fake. They can't be real. [The] Child Sex Offenses Act would put me in prison if I allowed him [Alfie] to see real genitals [laughs]. So he has to look at absolutely false photo-real genitals, created by a prosthetics company.' It's certainly an interesting way to bend the rules when making a movie. Filmmakers have utilized unexpected techniques for decades to try and get their ideas across on the big screen, even when censorship should dictate otherwise. Now 28 Years Later took the initiative to use prosthetic genitalia to create a more realistic and grounded breed of Infected, or zombies, that 28 Days Later fans can be afraid of. The new sequel, 28 Years Later , with nudity and all, is currently playing in theaters. Fans that are excited about the franchise comeback will be happy to know that an additional film is headed our way, titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple .
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
On track for 'strongest Norfolk Show since Covid'
The organisers of the Royal Norfolk Show said they were on target for the "strongest year since Covid". The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) said advanced ticket sales suggested it was on track to welcome 78,000 to 80,000 people over the two days. It added that there would be 700 trade stands to visit and "very good show weather" with moderate temperatures and no rain forecasted. Mark Nicholas, managing director of the RNAA, said: "There's masses of entertainment, but at the heart of it is food, farming and countryside." He added: "We are set for a busy and interesting Royal Norfolk Show and I genuinely mean that. "We are not expecting any members of the Royal Family to attend this year, but we welcome any opportunity, and we will be happy to be surprised. "Of course, King Charles is our patron and we always appreciate the support from the Royal Household each year, whether they attend or not." The Grand Parade Ring will host displays of the county's best cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses. It will also feature show-jumping, heavy horses, horse-drawn coach driving, a Shetland Pony Derby, as well as a rally of agricultural steam engines. Representing Norfolk's links to the Armed Forces, the Duke of York's Royal Military School Marching Band will parade, and the RAF Falcons parachute team will put on a display, landing in the ring. Agricultural machinery will be on display, and an array of foods and drinks made in Norfolk will be available to enjoy. The show also featured an education section where young people could learn about science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM). Dr Samantha Fox, co-founder and director of the Youth STEMM Award, said: "The STEMM Village offers a unique blend of education and entertainment, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in the future of science, technology and healthcare. "With topics ranging from clean energy to the science of ageing, there's something to spark curiosity in everyone. "EastWind will bring together a great showcase of the offshore wind industry. I'm particularly excited about the virtual reality simulations, which will allow visitors to step into the shoes of a wind turbine engineer and see what it is like to be at the top of a wind turbine!" Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. How can I get to this year's Royal Norfolk Show? Duke of Edinburgh announced as show's royal guest
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rod Stewart says he gargles rum and coke before every show and only wants two items on his Glastonbury rider
Veteran rocker Rod Stewart has revealed he always gargles a swig of rum and coke before going on stage and has maintained the pre-show ritual for the past 40 years. The 80-year-old singer, who's set to play the Legends Slot on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival this June, said he doesn't drink the beverage on any other occasion. He told Radio Times: 'The vocal cords need a lot of looking after. I mean, they're absolute gold.' Back in May, Stewart was spotted wearing a sign around his neck that read, 'Sorry. Cannot talk. Having vocal rest,' while on holiday in Italy with his wife, Penny Lancaster, 54. 'When I feel I'm losing my voice, I go into what they call 'voice rest,'' he explained of the practise. 'It's remarkable how your voice will come back.' Ahead of his Glastonbury performance, Stewart revealed he wanted the items on his rider to remain very minimal and had been aghast at the amount of food brought to him ahead of past performances. 'I looked at it the other day and I thought, what is all this s*** doing here?' he said. 'All I need is a few bottles of wine and some crisps, and that's it. And there's all these bloody things! 'What am I gonna do with them? No hummus, but big piles of bananas and apples! And when you think the whole world's bloody starving. I gotta do something about that.' Stewart's vocal rest last month came after he reportedly spent five hours at Ronnie Drew's Irish Bar in Krakow, Poland, following Arsenal's Champions League defeat to PSG. Onlookers told The Sun, 'Rod might be an octogenarian, but he can still party like he's in his 20s. When he left, he had to be steered out by his minders and was stumbling a bit. The punters in the bar loved it and were cheering for him.' Stewart who cancelled three shows in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Lincoln, California, in January after being diagnosed with strep throat and testing positive for Covid, will take to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury on Sunday 29 June with a 90 minute set from 15.45pm to 17.15pm. 'It is a different gig,' he said of the forthcoming performance. 'It's like when you're playing a cup final: you're trying to treat it like another game. But, of course, it's not. It's special.'
