Joseph Kosinski, who helmed F1: The Movie, is revealing why Simone Ashley‘s role was ultimately cut from the film.
It was announced last year that the Bridgerton actress joined the Formula One racing drama, starring alongside Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. However, few details were released about her specific role at the time.
“It happens on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use,” Kosinski recently told People magazine about the decision to reduce Ashley’s part in F1: The Movie. “There were two or three storylines that ultimately didn’t make into the final cut.”
The Top Gun: Maverick director added, “But Simone, she’s an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer, and I would love to work with her again.”
Ashley reportedly appears briefly onscreen but has no lines of dialogue in the movie, which also stars Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies and Kim Bodnia.
F1: The Movie follows Pitt’s Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver who comes out of retirement to mentor and team up with a younger driver, Idris’ Joshua Pearce. Real-life F1 drivers also make cameos throughout the pic.
While Ashley hasn’t addressed her role being removed from the movie, she previously told Elle magazine earlier this month that making the film was a “crazy” experience, saying, “I have a very small part, but I’m grateful to be in that movie.”
“I got to experience many Grands Prix,” she added. “I don’t think I’ll ever do anything like that again.”
F1: The Movie starts playing in theaters on June 27.