Ron Howard Teases Sexy, Dramatic 'Rush'

By

Four years after producing and directing Angels & Demons, Ron Howard is back at it with another thrilling film. ET caught up the director-producer for a preview of his upcoming action film starring Chris Hemsworth and Olivia Wilde, Rush.

"It's based on a true story about race drivers in the seventies," Howard said. "[It's] very cool, very sexy, very dramatic. We just had a fantastic screening in Berlin--under-the-radar, not an official screening there--but it played really well and made me very happy."


Think You Can Pick This Year's Oscars Winners?

The film, which was written by The Queen (starring Helen Mirren) writer Peter Morgan, pits Chris Hemsworth's and Daniel Brühl's characters against each other as rival drivers who aim to win the 1976 World Championship. It is slated for release in September.

Howard was out Thursday night to host a cocktail party in West Hollywood alongside composer Hans Zimmer, Vanity Fair, and the Fiat brand. The event, tagged "Una Notte Verde" ("A Green Night" in Italian) was hosted to benefit The United Nations' International Labour Organization and its Green Jobs Program.


VIDEO: Ron Howard Remembers Andy Griffith

Although Howard couldn't discuss who his favorite Oscar nominees were due to his status as an Academy voter, he assessed 2012 as an "excellent" year for film. However, Rush composer Zimmer revealed who he is rooting for this Sunday.

"'Silver Linings Playbook,'" the German composer mentioned as his favorite. "I just think it was a great movie, and Jennifer Lawrence just blew me away."


VIDEO: Bradley Cooper 'Overwhelmed' by 'Silver' Success


Dancing with the Stars
professional dancer Chelsie Hightower declared a different Best Picture nominee and Best Actor nominee as her choice to win at the 85th Academy Awards.

"I have to say, 'Lincoln' was absolutely incredibly for me, so I'm hoping for anything 'Lincoln,'" Hightower said of the historical film, which is nominated for a year-high twelve awards. "Daniel Day-Lewis, I'm really gunning for him. Just everything about that movie was amazing to me."