Gran Turismo movie gets the green light for August 2023

Last month, rumours emerged that a Gran Turismo movie adaptation is in the works. This seemed strange because the Gran Turismo series isn’t exactly renowned for its compelling characters and engaging storylines.

Now, Deadline has uncovered the first plot details to give us an idea of what to expect as well as a release date.

Based on a true story

According to Deadline, the plot of the Gran Turismo movie is based on a true story about a “teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional race car driver.”

Gran Turismo veterans will know this mirrors the real-life GT Academy, a program that turned Gran Turismo gamers into real racing drivers. Between 2008 and 2016, anyone could enter the time trial competition in GT5 and GT6. The fastest players were pitted against each other in a reality TV show, with the winner becoming a racing driver for Nissan.

It’s not known who the main character of the Gran Turismo movie is based on. It could be Lucas Ordóñez, the winner of the first GT Academy who went on to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

British driver Jann Mardenborough is another candidate. After winning the third GT Academy, Mardenborough finished third in the LMP2 class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013. He also raced in the Super GT.

District 9's Neill Blomkamp will direct the Gran Turismo movie. As well as District 9, his directing credits include the science fiction flicks Elysium and Chappie, so he’s certainly an unusual choice of director for a car racing movie.

Gran Turismo joins a growing list of PlayStation franchises being adapted for film and telvision. Earlier this year, we had the Uncharted film starring Tom Holland and Mark Walberg.

Despite mixed reviews, it grossed over $400 million at the box office, which perhaps encouraged Sony to give the Gran Turismo movie the green light. TV adaptations of Twisted Metal, God of War and The Last of Us are also in development.

Release date

Despite reportedly being early in development, the Gran Turismo movie has a release date. According to Deadline, the Gran Turismo movie adaptation is speeding into theatres on 11 August 2023.