New 'Rush' Feature Highlights Daniel Bruhl & Niki Lauda

Meet The Breakout Star Of 'Rush'

The fall's biggest breakout star? Try Daniel Bruhl, who plays famed Formula 1 driver Niki Lauda in Ron Howard's new film "Rush." Written by Peter Morgan, Howard's drama focuses on racers Lauda and James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth), and how their intense rivalry turned the 1976 Formula 1 season into one of the most famous on record.

Lauda, now 64, helped with Howard's film by meeting with Bruhl -- but with a caveat. "He called me and invited me to come over to Vienna, but then he said, 'Just bring hand luggage. In case we don't like each other, you can fly back to Berlin,'" Bruhl recalled in an exclusive new feature from the film, which HuffPost Entertainment is debuting above. Fortunately, the bag was unnecessary. "I really liked the guy from the first day on," Lauda said.

Watch the video on Niki Lauda and "Rush" in the window above. Ron Howard's film, which is set to bow at the Toronto International Film Festival, opens in New York and Los Angeles on Sept. 20 before a nationwide premiere on Sept. 27.

"Rush" World Premiere

"Rush" Premiere Photos

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