In a recent humorous short film commercial for Beats, Formula One racer Daniel Ricciardo and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen are testing their friendship.
Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, and Daniel Ricciardo, the driver for Formula One, are prepared to take on their next major project: owning a racehorse. Well, a fictional one, anyhow. The two, who also happen to be genuine friends, are the stars of “The Legend of Ricallen,” a brand-new Beats humorous short film ad. It’s now known as the Ric legend. After his co-star was unable to make it, Ricciardo quips to The Hollywood Reporter in a lighthearted manner, “There’s no more Ricallen.”
Beats released the six-and-a-half-minute short film on Wednesday morning. It begins with the two FaceTiming and asking how they may further their connection. “Like purchase a soccer squad?” Allen’s inquiries in the video are a reference to Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. In the end, Allen and Ricciardo decide to purchase a racehorse.
For the first time, the accomplished athletes Allen and Ricciardo have collaborated on a project together, “The Legend of Ricallen.” Still, the two have a long history of friendship. Ricciardo says, “Josh and I have definitely become good friends and created a bromance, if you will, over the last few years.” Allen later told THR that he and DR. Ricciardo have been friends for a number of years, suggesting that they share a similar sentiment. They don’t elevate them above him.
The Australian race car driver says the idea behind the short film came through their partnerships with Beats. When the idea was presented, he immediately said yes. “It was 100 percent the funnest work day,” Ricciardo says about shooting the film with Allen. “I don’t even want to call it a work day.”
Allen, like Ricciardo, commits fully to acting and having fun in the video and says he has enjoyed it all. “Ricallen has been a unique experience from start to finish,” the quarterback says. “I’ve enjoyed the process from strategy to the much-anticipated release of the final spot. The creative on this one has allowed us both to have fun with it and that’ll be clear when it airs.”
Ricciardo says he’d like to think the duo’s friendship shines through the silliness of the video. “We kind of kept trying to throw each other… a little bit under the bus in a funny way, so it was really cool,” the driver adds.
In addition to making their acting debuts, both Allen and Ricciardo have been busy working hard in their main roles as Buffalo Bills quarterback and RB F1 team driver, respectively.
Allen began training camp with the Buffalo Bills today. “I feel great about the season,” Allen tells THR earlier in the week. “I’m really excited to get to training camp and get to work with this group of guys.”
Ricciardo, currently driving under Red Bull’s RB F1 team, had already been well-known within the world of F1 when Netflix‘s Formula 1: Drive to Survive first premiered. The Australian driver, featured heavily throughout the show’s six seasons, became an early fan favorite for viewers, leading to a host of outside opportunities. Ricciardo notes some people have a certain perception of taking on projects like this one.
“People say, ‘Oh, these things are distractions,’” Ricciardo explains. “And for me, there is a clear category. There is distractions, but then there is good distractions, or things that actually are good for you and get you working or thinking in a different way, in a way that isn’t taxing, isn’t draining.”
The F1 driver notes that taking on “The Legend of Ricallen” was about a new experience. “I’m very big on that, just doing stuff that I haven’t done before and maybe something a little bit out of my comfort zone,” Ricciardo explains. “At the end of the day, you can also learn a lot about yourself in situations like this.”
The F1 summer break is fast approaching, but Ricciardo, speaking with THR before the Hungarian Grand Prix, says he has been “feeling really good.”
“I do love this part of the season, the summer,” the driver explains. “It’s going to be physical, and these are two races… every race you want to do good, but it’s two [Hungarian Grand Prix and Belgian Grand Prix] to really leave a strong impression before the summer break.”
Ricciardo continues, “A lot happens naturally in the summer break. There’s just always driver market… things are moving around and people are talking, so let’s say to leave a good impression is really important.”
The driver adds: “I’ve been training hard and well and just hopefully it translates to some good results.”
Allen and Ricciardo, in partnership with Beats and the F1 driver’s clothing company Enchanté, are also releasing “The Legend of Ricallen” merchandise, including a T-shirt, bandana and trucker hat.