David Harbour, who plays Jim Hopper on Netflix’s Stranger Things, is reportedly set to star in Sony’s film adaptation of the Gran Turismo racing game series. Deadline was the first to report. Additionally, See actor Archie Madekwe has been cast as the lead, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Now another report has emerged saying that Orlando Bloom has also joined the cast.
Neill Blomkamp (District 9) is directing from a script reportedly written by Jason Hall (American Sniper) and Zach Baylan. Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan, Doug Belgrad and Dana Brunetti of PlayStation Productions will serve as producers.
The film’s plot synopsis reads: “Based on a true story, the film is the last wish fulfilled of a teenage Gran Turismo gamer whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become a real racing driver. professional”. While it might seem strange to adapt a video game and not use its plot, it’s worth mentioning that as a racing game, Gran Turismo doesn’t have a plot.
Madekwe will play the teenager and Harbor will play a retired driver who teaches the young man how to drive, according to THR. Bloom is set to play a “hungry marketing executive who is selling the sport of motorsports…and may as well believe in the art of it,” according to THR. Filming begins in Europe this month.
Blomkamp is no stranger to video game movies, having been working with Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson on a Halo movie years ago before it all fell apart. He and Jackson continued to make District 9 after Halo fell apart, and the film became a cult hit. Blomkamp then directed Elysium with Matt Damon. In addition to his ongoing work in the film space, Blomkamp is working with developer Gunzilla on a battle royale game called Off The Grid for a 2023 release.
The Gran Turismo movie will arrive on August 11, 2023.
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