As video game movies inch ever closer to that significant milestone of “being good sometimes,” it opens up the door to tons of possibilities. After all, when all the action-packed adventure games run out, why not try a driving game likeGran Turismo?
Gran Turismo, Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony Digital’s eminent driving and racing game series with a presence on every PlayStation console since 1997, is getting its own movie adaptation by way of Sony Pictures. The same studio that broughtTom Holland’sUnchartedmovieto life is once again teaming up with PlayStation Productions to finally move the ball forward on the long-rumoredGran Turismoproject. But it might not be what fans are expecting.
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Neill Blomkamp, whose creative flair helped bring to lifesuch unique films asDistrict 9andChappie, is occupying the director’s chair for theGran Turismomovie. Under the banner of Columbia Pictures, he’ll be joined by screenwriter Jason Hall, whose credits include 2014’sAmerican Sniper. It sounds like an all-star pool of talent behind the camera, to be sure. But what sort of story can audiences expect to see adapted from a racing game?
Well, it turns out the plot will be a bit more meta than other video game movie adaptations, and will actually be based on a true story. The film will reportedly follow a teenageGran Turismoplayer whose skills at the game help pave the way to a career as a genuine professional race car driver. Apparently, while otherracing games likeNeed For Speedhave tried the straight adaptation approach,Gran Turismowants to try something new, and it might just work.
Similar toThe Wizard, which also tells a story revolving around existing video games (and possibly succeeds, depending on who’s being asked), it appears as thoughGran Turismo’s goal is to have the game serve as a storytelling device rather than the template for the whole movie. It makes sense, of course, since the series doesn’t exactly lean into any sort of narrative. TheGran Turismogames earned their reputationthrough realistic graphics and similarly authentic racing physics, as well as uncanny attention to detail.
There’s only so much that can be done with that on the big screen, so the filmmakers behind it are smart to use the game in this way. Whether or not they can pull it off has yet to be seen, but basing it on a true story already gives the production a good leg to start with.
