The live-action Gran Turismo film, adapted from the iconic PlayStation video game series, is revving up for an impressive opening weekend in North America. Box Office Mojo projects a $17.3 million debut from Friday to Sunday, propelling it to the top spot and overtaking the previous leader, the Barbie movie. Internationally, the film is also making strides, raking in an estimated $36.5 million.
On August 25, Sony Pictures released the film in the United States and Canada, following a brief delay from its original August 11 release date due to ongoing writer and actor strikes in Hollywood.
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Sony Pictures provides a captivating synopsis of the film: Gran Turismo chronicles the remarkable true tale of an unlikely trio – a determined working-class gamer (Archie Madekwe), a once-failed racecar driver (David Harbour), and an idealistic motorsport executive (Orlando Bloom).
Their combined determination leads them to challenge the pinnacle of motorsport. Gran Turismo delivers an exhilarating, action-packed narrative that underscores the potential of inner drive.
The film’s development was spearheaded by Columbia Pictures, with Jason Hall (known for American Sniper) as the scriptwriter. Producers include Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan from PlayStation Productions, along with Doug Belgrad and Dana Brunetti. The star-studded cast features David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner, and Djimon Hounsou.
Sony initiated the project to bring the racing simulator series to the big screen in 2013. Notably, the project saw involvement from producers Mike De Luca and Dana Brunetti, renowned for their work on Fifty Shades of Grey. Sony executives Elizabeth Cantillon, DeVon Franklin, and Hannah Minghella were also engaged in the venture.
The Gran Turismo game series made its debut on the original PlayStation console in 1997 and has since amassed a staggering 85 million copies in sales. The latest installment, Gran Turismo 7, was released for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in March 2022.
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In the past, Nissan and Sony Interactive Entertainment collaborated on the GT Academy program. This innovative initiative transformed Gran Turismo players into bona fide professional racers, producing a crop of successful drivers during its fruitful run from 2008 to 2016.
Sources | Box Office Mojo (link 2), The Numbers, Gran Turismo’s official site, Collider (Erick Massoto)
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