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Jerry Bruckheimer, one of Hollywood’s most prolific producers, dropped tantalizing hints about possible sequels to F1: The Movie, Top Gun: Maverick, and the long-running Pirates of the Caribbean franchise during his appearance at the Variety Entertainment & Technology Summit on September 25, 2025.
In a wide-ranging conversation with Variety’s Clayton Davis at The London West Hollywood, Bruckheimer touched on the challenges of filmmaking in today’s shifting theatrical landscape, the critical role of producers, and the hard work necessary to draw audiences out of their homes and into theaters.
Fresh off the success of F1: The Movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski and released earlier this summer, Bruckheimer explained why the racing drama connected with audiences in the U.S., where Formula 1 traditionally struggles for mainstream attention. The film has already grossed more than $624 million worldwide.
“It gave you a great ride and you got immersed inside this world that you knew nothing about,” Bruckheimer said. “And when you walked out, you knew a lot more about what these drivers go through. They’re some of the greatest athletes in the world. There’s only 20 of them.”
The producer praised stars Brad Pitt and Damson Idris for their dedication, noting they trained for four months to master the cars. Even though the actors reached speeds of about 180 mph—shy of the real drivers’ 220 mph—it was enough to capture the thrill.
Bruckheimer also credited Kosinski’s engineering background and Apple’s push for innovation in camera technology. By developing smaller, more flexible cameras, the team was able to film racing scenes from 16 different angles, providing audiences with a visceral, immersive experience.
Looking ahead, Bruckheimer revealed he is juggling nearly 30 projects in development. While he stopped short of making announcements, he confirmed that discussions are underway for Top Gun 3, a possible follow-up to F1: The Movie, and a new Pirates of the Caribbean film. Davis joked about the racing sequel being called F2, earning laughs but no confirmation from the veteran producer.
Reflecting on the industry, Bruckheimer compared going to the movies to dining out. “We all have kitchens in our houses, right? But we all like to go out to dinner. But you want a good meal and we gotta give ’em good meals,” he said. “It’s up to us in this industry to make entertainment that people want to leave their home and go out and see.”
Despite a career spanning five decades—with credits including Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun, Armageddon, National Treasure, and CSI—Bruckheimer stressed that his motivation is no longer financial. “It’s the greatest thing to do, to entertain people,” he said. “It’s not about the money anymore. It’s about the smile you put on people’s faces… when we do, it’s really exhilarating.”
