Top Isle of Man TT rider James Hillier confirms he won't race at 2026 event after taking on Hollywood movie role
One of the most recognisable names at the Isle of Man TT won’t be competing at the event this year following confirmation that James Hillier has instead taken on a role in the Hollywood movie being filmed on the island in 2026.
The production, titled Isle of Man and announced in 2024, will be produced for Amazon MGM Studios by stars Brad Pitt and Channing Tatum and stars Eve Hewson alongside Tatum.
TT winner James Hillier admits it will be “hard” watching the races start without being involved, but the 41-year-old said the chance to work on the film was one he didn’t want to pass up.
Hillier, a 15-time podium finisher at the TT with a fastest lap around the Mountain Course of 132.703mph, will ride camera bikes to provide realistic footage at race speeds and will act as a double for one of the characters in the movie.
He will also help with the development and planning of the movie.
Speaking to Manx Radio, Hillier said: “It’s going to be a little weird… It’s going to be hard, certainly watching the races start and not quite getting that same feeling; I’ll probably sleep a bit better!
“But it was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss out on, I don’t imagine it will happen again. I fully intend to be back here racing competitively again next year.
“Last year was a bit frustrating, the results were okay on the big bikes and we had a good run on the Supersport.
“It’s not really a step backwards, it’s more of a sidestep and I’ve done 16 TTs, and this opportunity came up and I wanted to get involved, and see where it goes.”
Hillier said the movie-makers needed an experienced TT rider to capture the race footage but given that filming is taking place during the 2026 races, their options were limited.
“Stunt rider is what they refer to me as but I don’t see it as a stunt; I guess it is, in a way, a risky manoeuvre riding around this course but they were quite limited let’s say on riders who were capable of riding around at a good speed with cameras on, and that will slow it down a little bit,” Hillier added.
“But also the experience I think, the knowledge I’ve gained from riding a fair few laps around this place, in an overall package I think I can offer them quite a lot.
“It’s going on for about a year when I started talking to them but it’s certainly an eye-opener, the whole scale of the thing is pretty monstrous, so it’s interesting, exciting and it’s never failed to surprise me.
“It’s very different anything I’ve seen or been involved with before.”
Hillier made his TT debut in 2008 and won the Lightweight race in 2013.
He is established as one of the leading contenders at the TT and last year clinched a podium in the opening Supersport race on the Bournemouth Kawasaki behind Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd.
Hillier also claimed fourth place in both Superstock races and sixth in the Superbike TT on the Muc-Off Honda Fireblade machines.