'F1' Director Speaks Out After Fan Outrage Over 'Bridgerton' Star's Scenes Getting Cut From Film

Once the F1 Grand Prix bug bites you, it's hard to let the passion and drive for the sport go, and most fans are eager to consume any additional content, from interviews to documentaries to full-length films.

Coming later this month is F1, starring Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, who missed his shot at stardom in a near-fatal accident in the 1990s. Thirty years later, his former team is struggling to succeed and convince him to come back to the track, but this time, he has to learn that it's not something he can do alone.

Veteran Hayes stars opposite the passionate rookie, Joshua Pearce, portrayed by Damson Idris. Simone Ashley was set to be a major part of the film, as well, and many fans theorized that she might be the love interest for Idris's character, though it was not confirmed at the time.

For months leading up to the film's premiere, Ashley spoke highly of her role, saying that it had been in the works for a "long time" and she'd likely never get to experience "anything like this ever again."

But at early screenings, excited fans noticed that Ashley was hardly in the film at all. In fact, Ashley only appears on screen for a few seconds—and it's not a speaking role.

Fans were quick to speak up about her diminished role in the film.

What really riled up fans is that this is not the first time something like this has happened in Hollywood, with a person of color's role being shrunk down in favor of a White one.

But more specifically, this is not the first time this has happened in a film directed by Joseph Kosinski. Specifically, Manny Jacinto, who is Filipino-Canadian, had all of his dialogue cut from Top Gun: Maverick, also directed by Kosinski.

Simone Ashley did not appear at the F1 premiere in New York, but Joseph Kosinski was there and had something to say.

"It happens on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use. There were two or three storylines that ultimately didn't make it into the final cut."

"But Simone, she's an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer, and I would love to work with her again."

Catch the movie trailer for F1 here:

  - YouTubewww.youtube.com

F1 is set to cross the finish line and enter theaters on June 27, 2025.

While it will undoubtedly illustrate the inner working of the F1 and Grand Prix world, this situation might be more illustrative about what's going on in Hollywood than the directors and producers might have anticipated.