We previously saw reports of Sony wanting to adapt its games to either TV or film, based on a presentation to investors. One of the IPs to get adapted was Gran Turismo, which has no story to speak of. At the time, we speculated it may go the Need for Speed direction, making up original characters and plot for the adaptation. Now, a new report not only indicates that it will be a movie, but also that it will be based on a true story.
Deadline reports that the name of the movie will simply be Gran Turismo. It will also reportedly be based on a true story, which is also the “ultimate wish fulfilment tale”. It tells the story of a player of the game whose skills turned him into an actual professional race car driver. This indicates that the film will be based around the GT Academy.
As VGC points out, one notable example of a GT Academy racer turned pro is Jann Mardenborough from the UK, who won in 2011 and went on to compete in the GP3 series, 24 Hours Le Mans and Japanese Super GT Series. Another example of a GT Academy success story, Kotaku highlights, is Spanish driver Lucas Ordonez, who was the first winner of the competition. He would then race with Nissan professionally for a decade.
For a game that inherently has no story, making a movie about the cultural impact of Gran Turismo is a surprisingly good choice. Not only is it going against convention, it’s also one that would distance video games from the inaccurate stigma that’s been attached to the hobby since its inception.
Going back to the Gran Turismo movie, the Deadline reports that the director will be Neill Blomkamp, who also directed District 9 and Chappie. It is expected to premiere on 11 August 2023.
