Gran Turismo Release Date, Cast, Trailer, Plot And More Details

These days, Sony Pictures and Sony Pictures Television are betting big on adaptations of their blockbuster video game series. That last few years have witnessed the release of the not-quite-critically-acclaimed "Uncharted," based on the popular games of the same name. Still, that bet paid off, as it went on to gross more than $400 million. There's also the highly praised, cultural sensation that was the first season of HBO's game-based "The Last of Us," as well as projects like Anthony Mackie's "Twisted Metal" series.

And now, you better start revving your engines because we'll also be getting a movie based on the "Gran Turismo" racing game franchise. "Gran Turismo" dates back to 1997 on the original PlayStation console, and it's one of the most popular in the platform's history. The most recent title, 2022's "Gran Turismo 7," won over the critics and fans alike. 

A movie based on "Gran Turismo" has been in the works since as early as 2013, but the first version of the project was shelved in 2018. However, Sony has resurrected the idea with a new director, a new script, and a pretty impressive cast. Get ready to race into theaters, and prepare to learn everything you need to know about the "Gran Turismo" movie.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the "Gran Turismo" movie adaptation began filming in mid-September 2022 over in Europe, and the film was completed months before its summer '23 rollout. However, the film was ultimately stymied by a work stoppage, as the ongoing SAG-AFTRA actors strike of 2023 means that performers can't publicly tout their projects. 

"The stars can't promote the film, but the audience can," a Sony representative told Deadline in July 2023 mere weeks before the long-planned theatrical release date of August 11 for "Gran Turismo." That explanation was a justification for both the studio's hoped-for reliance on word-of-mouth advertising among moviegoers, as well as for a late-breaking release date change. Once scheduled to pull into theaters on August 11, "Gran Turismo" will pop into theaters for some sneak preview showings the weekend of August 18, followed by a full, wide rollout on August 25, 2023.

According to the official plot synopsis, "'Gran Turismo' is based on the unbelievable true story of a team of unlikely underdogs — a struggling working-class gamer, a failed former racecar driver, and an idealistic motorsport executive. Together, they risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world."

So who exactly is that working-class gamer who find himself in a real-life, high-octane, fish-out-of-water story? Well, "Gran Turismo" is based on the life of Jann Mardenborough, a "Gran Turismo" player who became an actual race car driver. Born in England in 1991, Mardenborough competed on the third season of "GT Academy," the reality series sponsored by Nissan and PlayStation that challenged "Gran Turismo" players to put their skill to the test with the goal of becoming an actual race car driver. Mardenborough won the third season in 2011, beating out 90,000 competitors and becoming the youngest winner in the show's history. He's still racing competitively today.

While we don't know how close the film will stick to Mardenborough's actual story, we're excited to see the exciting biopic/video game film play out on the big screen.

The "Gran Turismo" movie will star Archie Madekwe in the role of Jann Mardenborough .The young Madekwe previously appeared in Ari Aster's "Midsommar" and in the Jason Momoa dystopian series "See." Joining him will be Sheriff Jim Hopper of "Stranger Things." Yep, David Harbour will have a major supporting role, as he'll play Jack Salter, a retired race car driver who mentors Madekwe's character in the sport. 

You can also expect to see "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Orlando Bloom playing Danny Moore, who The Hollywood Reporter describes as "a hungry marketing exec who is selling the sport of motor racing ... and just may believe in its art, too." "Never Have I Ever" breakout star Darren Barnet is set to portray Matty Davis, the antagonistic top-ranked driver at the GT Academy who's jealous of the gamer's sudden success. Geri Halliwell, formerly known as Ginger Spice of the Spice Girls, has also joined the cast in the supporting role as Jann's mother, Lesley.

Back on May 26, Deadline reported that director Neill Blomkamp will be helming the project. This will be the first video game adaptation for the South African/Canadian-born director, who's mostly known for his science fiction films. Blomkamp broke out in 2009 with the extraterrestrial movie "District 9," and he's also directed "Elysium" and "Chappie."

The script is being written by Jason Hall, who previously wrote "American Sniper" in 2014 and "Thank You for Your Service" in 2017. Hall is also an actor who played the character Devon MacLeish on eight episodes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

On the producing side, former Sony executive Doug Belgrade ("Bad Boys for Life") is listed, as is Dana Brunetti ("The Social Network," "House of Cards"), the latter of whom was involved in the previous iteration of this project. There's also Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan from PlayStation productions, both of whom produced "Uncharted."

"Gran Turismo," the summer 2023 film, is part of an ongoing campaign by Sony to adapt some of its bestselling PlayStation video console games into movies. "Gran Turismo" is also set to be one of the first high profile game-to-movie attempts following the success of HBO's "The Last of Us" series.

Released on May 2, 2023, the first official "Gran Turismo" trailer lays out the concept of the movie, which looks to combine equal parts high-octane speed-racing thrill ride and unlikely and emotionally inspirational underdog story. "Gran Turismo" the film centers on the true life story of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a teenager from the U.K. who joined the GT Academy esports tournament and got so good at driving pretend cars — in the "Gran Turismo" game series that he became an actual race car driver. The trailer depicts Mardenborough leaving the home of his disapproving father, settling in at GT Academy, being trained by an incredulous instructor (David Harbour), and getting knocked around by a sophisticated race simulation experience.