Gran Turismo (2023)

Gran Turismo is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film directed by Neill Blomkamp from a screenplay by Jason Hall and Zach Baylin. Produced by Columbia Pictures, PlayStation Productions, and 2.0 Entertainment, it is based on the sim racing video game series developed by Polyphony Digital. It depicts a sensationalized account of real life British driver Jann Mardenborough, a teenage Gran Turismo player who became a professional racing car driver. The film stars Archie Madekwe as Mardenborough, alongside David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner, and Djimon Hounsou. Development of a film based on Gran Turismo was revealed in July 2013, with Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti producing and Alex Tse writing the script. Joseph Kosinski was set to direct the film in June 2015 from a new screenplay by Jon and Erich Hoeber. However, the Kosinski version was no longer moving forward as of February 2018. In May 2022, it was announced the film was again in development, with Blomkamp being attached to direct it in June. The main cast were announced in September 2022, while other cast additions signed in November. Filming began in Hungary that month and wrapped in December. The film score was composed by Lorne Balfe and Andrew Kawczynski. Gran Turismo premiered at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on July 30, 2023, and was released in the United States on August 25 by Columbia Pictures via Sony Pictures Releasing. It has grossed $122 million worldwide against its $60 million budget and received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Blomkamp's direction and racing sequences, but criticized its writing and use of Mardenborough's crash at the Nürburgring Nordschleife as a narrative element.