The Maze Runner star is set to feature in a limited series about the legendary F1 driver Ayrton Senna.
We are firmly in the era of biopics: Elvis, Bohemian Rhapsody and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody remain a few to be released in recent years. This trio are all based on music, but the world of sport is being tapped into as well, with the upcoming Netflix limited series ‘Senna’ being a prime example.
Ayrton Senna was a Brazilian Formula 1 driver who won three championships, and passed away in 1994 at 34 years old. He managed to get his hands on the silverware in 1988, 1990 and 1991, all whilst racing for the iconic brand McLaren.
Then, at the iconic Italian Imola Circuit in 1994, disaster struck. Senna lost control of his car and hurtled into a concrete barrier, losing his life as a result. Even more remarkably, Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger was killed the day prior in a qualification session, marking one of the most tragic weekends in the history of the sport.
This Netflix series is being partly driven by his family and is set to tell all the peaks and troughs of Senna’s career. His rise to fame, the best years of his career and his untimely death will play out right in front of our eyes.
The latest news regarding the series is that a young phenomenon is joining the cast. Kaya Scodelario rose to fame in the cult classic TV show Skins and has since appeared in a number of well-known films. As a star of The Maze Runner, she appeared alongside names such as Dylan O’Brien and Will Poulter in the worldwide famous book-to-screen adaptation.
Scodelario was quoted as saying the following regarding this project: “Being half Brazilian it has always been a dream of mine to work on a Brazilian production. It is an honour to be involved in a project that tells the story of Ayrton, a true national hero who means so much to the people of Brazil and around the world. It’s a huge responsibility and I am so excited to go on this journey.”
It remains to be seen where she will fit into the cast, though she is set to take on the role of a fictional character. Regardless, this is another big step in the career of Scodelario.
The series is set to be released in 2024, and will feature Gabriel Leone as Ayrton Senna.
Words by Jamie Rooke
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.