Damson Idris has shared a very human, very messy behind-the-scenes story from F1 The Movie: during a high-intensity scene opposite Brad Pitt, he accidentally spat in Pitt’s face—then had to keep acting while he watched it “dribbling down” during the take.
Idris told the anecdote during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and the moment has since been widely picked up by major entertainment outlets.
What Idris says happened on set
According to Idris, the scene required him to get right up in Pitt’s face and deliver lines at full volume. In the middle of that intensity, he said, saliva flew—unintentionally—straight onto Pitt. Idris described immediately panicking internally, joking that he thought he might “lose [his] job,” and then realizing Pitt had registered it but didn’t derail the scene.
How Brad Pitt reportedly reacted
The detail that makes the story land is Pitt’s reaction: Idris said Pitt flinched slightly in surprise, but then kept going and stayed in character rather than cutting the moment. Idris framed it as an example of Pitt being a “giving” scene partner—professional enough to keep the take alive even when something awkward happens.
Why the story went viral
This is exactly the kind of Hollywood anecdote that spreads fast because it’s relatable: the fear of messing up in front of an A-list star, the “did that just happen?” shock, and the fact that everyone kept working through it.
It also plays into the film’s marketing narrative that the performances were physically and emotionally demanding—Idris wasn’t casually chatting with Pitt; he was acting in close-quarters, high-pressure scenes where control can slip for a second.
What F1 The Movie is and where it fits in Idris’ role
In the film, Pitt plays veteran driver Sonny Hayes, while Idris plays rising talent Joshua Pearce—a setup designed for friction, mentorship, and ego clashes, which explains why their scenes would be staged with that kind of intensity. The movie is directed by Joseph Kosinski and was released theatrically on June 27, 2025 (with Warner Bros. handling the theatrical rollout in partnership with Apple).
When audiences can watch it at home
Apple has also announced the film’s global streaming debut on Apple TV for December 12, 2025, following its theatrical run.
