Tom Holland-Austin Butler to collaborate for 'American Speed'
Tom Holland, recognized for his performances in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Cherry, is reportedly joining forces with Austin Butler, known for his roles in Dune: Part Two and The Bikeriders, per industry insider Jeff Sneider. The pair are set to portray drug-smuggling brothers in the forthcoming film, American Speed. The movie is expected to be produced by Oscar-winning producer Charles Roven under his Atlas Entertainment banner.
'American Speed' plot based on real-life drug-smuggling brothers
American Speed will tell the story of real-life brothers Don and Bill Whittington, who will be portrayed by Holland and Butler. The Whittingtons became notorious in the 1980s due to their involvement in both motorsport and criminal activity. Their drug trafficking operation, which funded their racing endeavors, involved smuggling large amounts of marijuana. The profits from this illegal trade supported their lavish lifestyle and racing ventures.
Whittington Brothers's criminal history to be explored in film
The criminal activities of the Whittington brothers eventually resulted in prison sentences for both Don and Bill. Their involvement in drug trafficking was publicly scrutinized, while their brother Dale's role was less examined. The upcoming film American Speed will delve into these real-life events, with Holland and Butler bringing the infamous brothers' story to the big screen. No director, screenwriter, or studio has been attached to the project yet.
Holland and Butler's upcoming projects
Holland, fresh from his role in the Apple TV+ miniseries The Crowded Room, will soon be seen in Sony's Spider-Man 4, set to begin filming in early 2025. He also recently returned to the stage as Romeo in Jamie Lloyd's West End revival of Romeo and Juliet. Meanwhile, Butler, who portrayed Feyd-Rautha in Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two, is set to star in Ari Aster's Western film Eddington and Darren Aronofsky's crime thriller Caught Stealing.
