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The biographical drama about biographical Jann Mardenborough is set to release in theaters this August 25th after being delayed for two weeks. This also marks Neil Blompkamp’s 5th film as director. You might remember him from the sci-fi films District 9, Elysium, and Chappie.
The movie shares the same name as a popular sim racing series, but just how connected are they? And why did Sony postpone its release? Here are the very answers to those questions and more.
What is the true story behind Gran Turismo?
The true story behind Gran Turismo is that of the main character, Jann Mardenborough. The movie will follow his early life and career in professional racing, as he goes from being an avid sim racer to getting behind the wheels of some of the most powerful cars in the world. Jann got his chance to race in motorsports after winning the 2011 GT Academy competition, where he beat 90,000 other contestants and was rewarded with a drive with Nissan at the Dubai 24 Hour Race.
The movie will also discuss his accident in 2015 at Nürburgring Nordschleife, a famous track in Germany. Here, his car was launched into the stands after lifting into the air, killing a spectator and injuring Jann.
Who stars in Gran Turismo?
The cast of Gran Turismo has some names that should sound familiar to you. Archie Madekwe, who you might remember from A24’s Midsommar, plays Jann Mardenborough. Alongside Madekwe is David Harbour as Jack Salter, Jann’s trainer, and Orlando Bloom as Danny Moore, an exec at Nissan. We also see Geri Halliwell, who you might know better as Ginger Spice of The Spice Girls, playing the role of Jann’s mother.
Is Gran Turismo based on the video game series?
The movie isn’t based on the video game series per se but rather is based on the real-life story of Jann Mardenborough. Mardenborough famously broke into the world of pro racing with no experience beyond his extensive time playing sim racing games, specifically Gran Turismo. Gran Turismo is a racing simulation series of video games that dates back to 1997 and is still widely popular today. The latest release in the series is Gran Turismo 7, which was released in March 2022.
You don’t need to know anything about video games or Gran Turismo to enjoy this film, as it is a racing sports movie at heart and should be easily accessible to general audiences. If you’re on the fence about seeing it because you’re not a Gran Turismo game fan, don’t be; you’ll still be able to enjoy it and understand everything in the movie.
Why did Sony postpone Gran Turismo?
The release date for Gran Turismo was delayed by two weeks following the currently ongoing writers’ and actors’ strike from SAG-AFTRA. It was originally supposed to release in theaters on August 11th, but Sony pushed the release date back by two weeks, with it now hitting theaters on August 25th. Gran Turismo wasn’t the only movie affected, as lots of release dates were shifted around in anticipation of the impacts the strike will have on movie production in Hollywood.
Where can I watch Gran Turismo?
You’ll be able to catch Gran Turismo in theaters when it releases on August 25th. It is getting a wide release and is arguably one of the bigger movies releasing that weekend, so it should be in theaters everywhere. As for streaming, it will not be available for some time, so try to catch it in theaters if you can.
