Motor racing-Apple's Cue expects F1 movie sequel, hopes for more global TV expansion

FILE PHOTO: German artist Georg Baselitz talks during a media preview of the exhibition 'Baselitz' at the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen near Basel, Switzerland January 19, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

By Alan Baldwin

MIAMI, May 1 (Reuters) - A sequel to Brad Pitt's successful F1 Movie is likely and Apple are also hoping to expand their Formula One ‌involvement globally after securing the U.S. broadcast rights, Senior Vice-President of Services Eddy ‌Cue said on Friday.

"I hope and expect there will be one," Cue said when asked by Reuters at ​the Miami Grand Prix about a possible sequel to the Apple Original Films production.

The movie cost an estimated $200 million to make and grossed $634 million, according to online database IMDb.

Apple TV took over from Walt Disney's ESPN this season as exclusive U.S. broadcaster of Formula One, with live ‌coverage of all 24 rounds.

Cue said ⁠he was thrilled with how the coverage had been received and said Apple intended to play a big role in growing the sport.

"The ⁠sport doesn't get licensed on a global basis," he added. "Do I hope that we are able to grow into other areas and markets? Yeah, I do.

"But starting in the U.S. which is a ​huge ​market for us, and being able to build ​from there, is definitely the right ‌way to do it. And that's what we are focused on right now. The easiest way for us to continue to grow is to make sure we make this a huge success.

"And then of course it would be great to expand it."

Cue said also that the appointment of John Ternus as new Apple CEO, replacing Tim Cook, would only strengthen the ‌company's relationship with Formula One.

"John actually drives a ​Porsche and does amateur racing," he explained. "He would actually ​be here this weekend but he's at ​Laguna Seca.

"So rest assured if anything he's going to be at ‌more races even than Tim. He's a ​huge, huge fan of ​F1 and he's known about this, he's a huge supporter. So you'll continue to see full support from him.

"When we do something, we don't do things halfway. The ​things that we do we ‌go all in. So we believe without a doubt that this is going ​to make a huge difference in what we can do to help ​motorsports."

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)