Ferrari Denies Adam Driver Permission to Drive Their Cars in New Film

The latest film to hit Venice, Ferrari, stars Adam Driver as famed Italian carmaker Enzo Ferrari. But Driver, who attended the premiere with director Michael Mann on Thursday despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes, revealed he wasn’t allowed to drive any of the eponymous race cars in the movie.

Ferrari follows the story of the renowned businessman as he battles to keep his company afloat in 1957. After his factory is threatened with bankruptcy, Enzo bets on the Mille Miglia — an open-road one-thousand-mile race across Italy – to save his brand and reputation. But when the races begin, Enzo isn’t exactly sure what he’s in for.

The racing scenes in the film do have enough energy and jeopardy to raise the pulse rate, but for the most part, the heady drama plods along like a slug. For all his legendary achievements, Enzo comes off as a grumpy provincial middle manager in this portrayal. Similarly, Penelope Cruz doesn’t have much to do as Laura Ferrari other than clump around town and scowl at people. And Jack O’Connell, as English driver Peter Collins, is given almost nothing to do but deliver a few one-liners.

Speaking to reporters after the Ferrari premiere on Thursday, Driver addressed the current actors strike, clapping back at big streamers like Netflix and Amazon that are refusing to meet SAG-AFTRA demands for better pay and residuals. “I’m here to tell you that if you’re not willing to support the people who make movies with you, then you should just stay on the sidelines,” Driver said.

During the press conference, Driver also aimed at the studios and distributors of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. This group blocks actors and writers from promoting their films until their demands are met. He noted that the film he’s promoting, Ferrari—which was made independently of AMPTP studios through Neon and STX International—was granted an exception to attend the festival by SAG-AFTRA thanks to its interim agreement with the union and its distributor being non-member of the AMPTP.

Ferrari stars Driver as Enzo, alongside Sarah Gadon, Gabriel Leone, Patrick Dempsey, and Jack O’Connell. The film was written and directed by Michael Mann, who helmed Heat and Collateral. It opens in theaters on December 25 from the American distributor Neon.