Adam Driver Addresses Back-to-Back Italian Roles: "Who Cares?"

In the latest episode of the SmartLess podcast, Adam Driver brushed off concerns about portraying two Italians consecutively, playing Maurizio Gucci in 2021’s House of Gucci and Enzo Ferrari in the recently released Ferrari. Joined by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, Driver, 40, nonchalantly responded to questions about his choices.

 

"People ask, 'How many Italians?' It just worked out that way," Driver explained. "It's Ridley [Scott] and Michael [Mann], some of the best filmmakers ever. Who cares if it's two Italians back to back?"

 

Driver, a two-time Oscar nominee, humorously admitted the roles may not have been strategically chosen, given both Ferrari and Gucci shared Italian heritage. Despite Driver's surprise at the recurring topic, he shrugged it off, emphasizing, "It's just two Italians!"

 

Driver Takes the Wheel in 'Ferrari'

 

In the Mann-directed biopic Ferrari, Driver embodies the iconic founder during a pivotal 1957 encounter with motorsports legend. The film's official synopsis suggests Ferrari is in crisis during this period. The star-studded cast includes Patrick Dempsey, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Jack O’Connell, Sarah Gadon, and Gabriel Leone.

 

Audience Questions at Camerimage Film Festival

 

In November, a video circulated on social media platform X, showing Driver responding to audience questions after a screening at Poland’s Camerimage Film Festival. When asked about the depiction of car crashes in the movie, Driver, known for his candidness, replied, "I don't know. Next question," after the audience member described a scene as "harsh" and "cheesy."

 

Driver, who attended the Venice Film Festival in September alongside Mann and Dempsey for Ferrari's world premiere, had earlier shared insights into the filming process. While Dempsey got behind the wheel for his role as Ferrari racer Piero Taruffi, insurance reasons prevented Driver from doing the same.

 

"I don't drive the cars," Driver clarified during a press conference. "Making a movie is a miracle, and they don’t want me touching the most expensive part. I raced Ferraris in pre-production, but for the actual scenes, it's on a dolly. They don't trust me with small equipment—big equipment, like sandwiches, I can handle."

 

Ferrari is currently playing in theaters, offering audiences a glimpse into the compelling narrative surrounding the motorsports icon.

 

Conclusion

 

Adam Driver, unfazed by the debate around his consecutive Italian roles, credits the opportunity to work with esteemed directors like Ridley Scott and Michael Mann. The actor, known for his straightforward responses, navigates questions about the film's portrayal of car crashes and humorously reflects on not being trusted with driving scenes. As Ferrari continues to captivate audiences in theaters, Driver's carefree attitude toward his back-to-back Italian characters echoes his focus on collaborating with renowned filmmakers.