Gran Turismo is a racing simulator game. There’s no quest for a magical relic or a city to save from aliens, so how can it serve as the basis of a major motion picture? The thing is, the Gran Turismo film isn’t a “video game movie” but is instead based on a true story.
In 2006, former Nissan Europe executive Darren Cox—played by Orlando Bloom in the movie—wondered if a player’s skills in Gran Turismo could translate to real life. As Cox was known for, he soon parlayed that theory into a marketing opportunity by creating the GT Academy, a worldwide competition to find the fastest Gran Turismo players. The best would then be pitted against each other in real-life racing challenges as part of a reality show, with the winner getting a contract with a factory-supported Nissan racing team. Sounds like the makings of a Hollywood tale, doesn’t it? Sony Pictures thought the same thing and used the GT Academy as the foundation for the film.
This story is from the September 2023 edition of Motor Trend.
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This story is from the September 2023 edition of Motor Trend.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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