The curse of the video game movie seems to be officially over. Well, maybe not in terms of quality control, but at least these video game movies like “Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Uncharted,” and “Mortal Kombat” seem to be nabbing audiences. So, now the folks at Sony are moving full speed ahead on a film based on the “Gran Tourismo” video game franchise, and they got “Stranger Things”/“Black Widow” actor David Harbour to sign on to star.
READ MORE: ‘Gran Turismo’: Sony Developing A New Movie With Neill Blomkamp To Direct
According to THR, David Harbour is set to star in the upcoming “Gran Tourismo” film from Sony Pictures. The film, which is said to be directed by “District 9” filmmaker Neill Blomkamp, is a bit different than your typical video game adaptation. Sure, the racing game franchise is going to be front and center, but the film is actually about the surprising true story of a young kid who is so good at the game that he becomes a legit racecar driver. Harbour is expected to play a retired driver to teaches the kid how to become a pro.
As you might have guessed, “Gran Turismo” is a racing franchise that attempts to be a super-detailed simulation of actual driving. The long-running video game series prides itself on being as close to real racing as possible, with players able to customize their vehicles to very minute degrees.
As mentioned, Harbour is probably best known for his role as Hopper on “Stranger Things.” However, he’s also a star in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he plays Red Guardian in “Black Widow” and the upcoming “Thunderbolts.”
Production on “Gran Turismo” is beginning soon, as Sony has a very aggressive release date of August 11, 2023 in mind.