Has anyone seen or heard any publicity for this film? 
The wife of motor-racing icon Bruce McLaren thinks Hollywood star Tom Cruise would be the best choice to play the part of her late husband.
A $140 million movie about the life of legendary Kiwi racing diver Bruce McLaren will be made in Wellington next year.
"I was talking about who could play the part this morning with my daughter, Amanda, and I thought Tom Cruise would be a good choice," Patty McLaren-Brickett said.
"He looks very similar to Bruce -- he is dark, he is the same height and has a similar build -- he is the only person I thought of at the moment - but he would be too expensive."
Barrie Osborne, who produced The Lord of The Rings trilogy, has confirmed he will produce the film, which has an estimated budget of US$100 million (NZ$140 million).
The film will follow McLaren's life from the hip problem that crippled him as a child through to his becoming one of motor racing's biggest stars.
The Formula 1 driver, who also designed and manufactured racing cars, was killed on June 2, 1970, when his Can Am car crashed during testing at the Goodwood Circuit in England. His name lives on in Team McLaren, one of the most successful in the history of Formula 1 racing.
Motor sport enthusiast Michael Garlick, who will co-produce the film, said the movie was already attracting interest from overseas.
"Bruce McLaren is the biggest story in the history of motor sport," Mr Garlick said. "Nobody has masterminded as many victories and successes as he did. That's why perhaps he is revered more outside of New Zealand than inside."
McLaren's daughter Amanda said the family, including her mother Patty, were thrilled that the film, which starts shooting early next year, was being made.
"My mother and I are very excited about it and fully support the project. I can't wait to see the final product," said Ms McLaren, a nurse who lives in Upper Hutt.
Few people in New Zealand realised her father was a Kiwi. "They see the name and they know it but they assume he was born in England because that's where the racing team operated from.
"A lot of New Zealanders are surprised to find he is a local boy. He was one of the great sportsmen of New Zealand and I think a lot of people don't realise that."
Diagnosed with Perthes' disease as a child, McLaren spent two years in traction at the Wilson Home for Crippled Children in Takapuna yet overcame his difficult start in life to become the youngest person to win a Grand Prix, at 22.
The film would highlight another great Kiwi story, his daughter said.
"I think it will do great things for the country. We have a tremendous sporting history and this is a huge, huge part of it."
McLaren's friend and fellow racing driver Chris Amon will advise on the film, as will school friend and leader of the Progressive Party Jim Anderton.
The script is being developed by Wellington screenwriter Matthew Grainger. Dan Hennah, who won an Oscar for his work on The Lord of the Rings, will be production designer.
Osborne, whose film credits include The Matrix and The Big Chill, said he was very excited about bringing McLaren's story to the world.
"As a kid growing up in New York I remember building a hot rod with my neighbour and we would always seek out McLaren motor parts. He's pretty big around the world," he said.
"We hope to capture the audience's imagination and bring the memory of Bruce McLaren to the forefront again."
Preproduction will begin later this year. The production will be based in Wellington but Mr Garlick said they would probably film several scenes on location around New Zealand and in Britain, Monaco, Germany, France and the United States. He was coy about who might play McLaren.
"We have a number of people in mind. A film with this sort of budget is going to demand a (big) name."
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