Hollywood star Jesse Eisenberg and Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay will star on the first episode of the revamped Top Gear.
The pair will have their motoring skills put to the test when they join hosts Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc for the series debut on May 29.
The official Top Gear Twitter account confirmed the news, tweeting: “Viper vs 'Vette. UK vs USA. Jesse Eisenberg and @GordonRamsay.”
The announcement comes after The Sun reported that Brad Pitt had been lined-up for the “star in a reasonably priced car” segment as show bosses reportedly wanted an A-lister to kick off the proceedings – but he is said to have pulled out.
“Brad has obviously had filming issues so they’ve had to quickly find another Hollywood name and came up with Jesse,” a source told the publication.
“He played Lex Luthor in the latest Batman vs Superman movie, but is not a heart-throb or a name anything like Brad. Chris Evans is not known in the US so they’ve had to bring in two guests instead of one each week to build the brand out there.
“Gordon is a huge US TV star so that will help – but it’s not the start Chris or the producers wanted really.”
But a spokesperson for the show dismissed the claims and told Standard Online: “There is no truth in this story, we never approached Mr Pitt.”
Evans - who took over from Jeremy Clarkson on the BBC 2 motoring show - recently revealed he is “preparing for potential imminent career death”.
Writing in his Mail Online column he addressed his critics, writing: "It's clear, even to a deaf, dumb and blind person, that in their considered opinion, I thoroughly deserve to be six feet under and the sooner the better.
“As a consequence of the mud-slinging, I have taken to daily, contemplative soaks in the bath-tub of 'worst-case scenario'. I am a realist hoping for the best, while preparing for potential imminent career death.”
Top Gear returns to BBC 2 at 8pm on May 29.
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