Gran Turismo Movie: David Harbour Reportedly Joins Film's Cast as Retired Racecar Driver

gadgets.ndtv.com:

David Harbour has reportedly joined the Gran Turismo movie. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures' PlayStation Productions unit has roped in the Stranger Things actor to play the part of an unnamed, retired driver. Neill Blomkamp — best known for District 9 — directs the live-action adaptation of the best-selling racing simulation game. The Gran Turismo movie script is co-written by Jason Hall (American Sniper) and Zach Baylin (King Richard). Sony is planning a theatrical release for the film on August 11, 2023.

While the original Gran Turismo games rely on racing challenges, instead of a coherent plot, Sony Pictures will weave an unrelated tale that takes influences from a true story. The Hollywood Reporter describes the adaptation as the ultimate “wish-fulfilment” story of a teenage Gran Turismo player, whose gaming skills won him a series of Nissan competitions, ultimately joining the league as a professional driver. The newly-casted Harbour will serve as a teacher and mentor to the young, aspiring racer.

The Gran Turismo games are simply revered for their highly-detailed visuals and precise driving physics. So, it's good to see that Sony came up with a unique approach to storytelling, while still remaining true to the Gran Turismo name. While the studio has not exclusively mentioned which real-life driver the premise is inspired by, the story sounds similar to that of Jann Mardenborough. The British professional racecar driver began his career by participating in the GT Academy training programme, which enlisted students to play the simulation game, and in time, go from virtual to real racing.

“As one of PlayStation's longest standing and most beloved franchises, it's great to be partnering with Columbia