Seaman film nears production

Richard Seaman is the latest name to join a long list of legendary racing drivers whose stories are potentially being turned into movies.

Provisionally titled Silver Arrows, the Seaman project is being prepared by Brian Oliver, one of the producers behind the Hunt/Lauda film Rush, which is currently being shot.

Oliver – whose Cross Creek Pictures was also responsible for the 2010 Oscar-winning ballet film Black Swan – has no qualms about pursuing a racing theme for a second time.

“It was an interesting era because the German manufacturers were so superior that someone who was racing in Britain could not compete on the continent,” Oliver told Motor Sport. “It was Seaman’s opportunity to pursue racing, but he also went to a hostile environment in the sense that we were on the verge of WWII and the rise of Hitler.

“They forced him to try to do the salute, and he kind of did a haphazard one. From all I’ve read he was warned that if he didn’t do that, there would be issues. I think he had a love of racing, and then once he got there and saw everything that was going on, he realised at what cost.

“To be a British guy in that environment reminded us a lot of Lawrence of Arabia a fish out of water. He ultimately ends up in a tragic event. We thought it could be a great story if we capture it the right way on film.”

Meanwhile pre-production work has begun on Winning Is Not Enough, a story that will focus on Jackie Stewart and his relationship with François Cevert.

The man behind the project is Bill Pohlad, the producer of Brokeback Mountain and a long-time friend of the triple World Champion. Stewart has indicated that he would like to see himself portrayed on screen by Ewan McGregor.