Video game adaptation is predicted to surpass Barbie in box office revenue
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Box Office website Mojo is estimating a Friday-Sunday opening weekend of $17.3 million for the live-action film Gran Turismo, the adaptation of the PlayStation video game series, in North America. . The website listed the film at number 1, surpassing the Barbie movie, which previously held the spot. The film is estimated to have earned US$36.5 million internationally.
Sony Pictures released the film in the United States and Canada on August 25, after delaying the film’s original release date of August 11 due to an ongoing writers and actors strike in Hollywood. .
Sony Pictures describes the film as follows:
Gran Turismo is based on the unbelievable true story of a group of underdogs – a struggling working-class gamer (Archie Madekwe), a failed gamer. former racing driver (David Harbour) and an ideal motorsport executive (Orlando Bloom). Together, they risk it all to join the world’s most elite sport. Gran Turismo is an inspiring, thrilling and action-packed story that proves that nothing is impossible when you are energized from within.
Columbia Pictures developed the film. Jason Hall (American Sniper) wrote the screenplay. Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan from PlayStation Productions are producing, along with Doug Belgrad and Dana Brunetti. The film stars David Harbor, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner and Djimon Hounsou.
Sony first kicked off the project to develop the racing simulation series into a movie in 2013. At the time, Fifty Shades of Gray producers Mike De Luca and Dana Brunetti were producing the project, along with the director. Sony executives Elizabeth Cantillon, DeVon Franklin and Hannah Minghella also participated.
The racing simulation franchise debuted on the original PlayStation console in 1997 and has since sold 85 million copies. The most recent title, Gran Turismo 7, was released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in March 2022.
Nissan and Sony Interactive Entertainment previously produced the GT Academy program that engages Gran Turismo players and gives them the opportunity to become professional racers in real life. This product line produced a number of successful drivers during its release period from 2008 to 2016.
Source: Box Office Mojo (link 2), Numbers, Gran Turismo official website, Collider (Erick Massoto)
