David Beckham races cars & yachts in Riva The Persuaders!

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David Beckham and Pierfrancesco Favino during filming

David Beckham has expanded his acting credits with a lead role in Riva The Persuaders!, co-starring with Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino in the action-packed short film that also features Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc.

Beckham, one of the world’s most high-profile football personalities, and Favino, one of Italy’s most famous movie stars, recently attended the exclusive premiere of the three-minute film at Riva’s 180th anniversary gala in Venice.

Riva The Persuaders! stars Pierfrancesco Favino, David Beckham and Charles Leclerc

Riva The Persuaders! shows Beckham in a vintage Maserati racing against Favino in a Ferrari before the action moves to the water where all three celebrities drive Riva yachts – Beckham in a 68’ Diable, Favino aboard a 56’ Rivale and Leclerc on a 39ft Rivamare. The trio are eventually seen together aboard a Navetta 37 superyacht by Custom Line, another Ferretti Group brand.

The short film was shot on the Côte d’Azur and Monaco, and was inspired by The Persuaders!, the early 1970s action-comedy TV series starring Roger Moore and Tony Curtis, which was shown in Italy as Attenti a quei due.

Pierfrancesco Favino drove a Riva 56’ Rivale in the film

Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group, said: “My thanks go to Pierfrancesco, David and Charles for the friendship, the passion and fun they put into the project: the result is spectacular. Riva’s story reads like a movie and this extraordinary short film, with its awesome trio of protagonists, is the perfect celebration of the brand’s 180th anniversary.

“I was a loyal viewer of the TV series The Persuaders! and I found the same ironic and elegant style in this little gem of a film. As always, Riva delivers big emotions.”

Charles Leclerc showing his handling skills on a Rivamare

Riva The Persuaders! was directed by Federico Brugia and produced by the Armando Testa Group, who were also behind the short film Riva in the Movie, which starred Favino and was released in 2020 to pay tribute to the iconic yachting brand’s role in 60 years of movies.

Favino is a two-time Best Actor winner at Italy’s annual Nastro d’Argento awards and has appeared in 60 films and over a dozen TV series since the early 1990s.