Archie Madekwe lands lead role in Gran Turismo movie

Not long after Stranger Things’ David Harbour signed onto the project, Archie Madekwe has landed a lead role in the upcoming Gran Turismo movie adaptation according to Hollywood Reporter.

Archie Madekwe lands lead role in Gran Turismo movie

Starring alongside Harbour, Madekwe will “literally be in the driver’s seat for the feature,” playing a teenager who competes in a Nissan esports competition to become a professional racing driver.

If this sounds familiar, that’s because the plot is inspired by the real-life GT Academy competition. Harbour, on the other hand, will play a retired racing driver who mentors Madekwe’s character.

As the Gran Turismo movie is “based on a true story,” Madekwe might be playing Jann Mardenborough, the 2011 GT Academy winner who went on to finish third in the LMP2 24 Hours of Le Mans class in 2013.

While Harbour is best known for his role as gruff police chief Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, Madekwe is a rising star, appearing in Midsommar, Voyagers, and the Apple+ drama See. Landing a lead role in a movie based on one of the most popular video game franchises in the world will no doubt bolster the young actor’s career.

Release date

Gran Turismo is being directed by Neill Blomkamp, known for directing science fiction flicks like District 9, Chappie, and Elysium, while the script is being penned by Jason Hall, who wrote the script for American Sniper.

Hall will also serve as Executive Producer alongside Gran Turismo’s creator Kazunori Yamauchi.

Gran Turismo is set for a theatrical release on August 11, 2023 – we can’t wait to see a trailer for Gran Turismo’s movie adaptation.