Do you feel the need? The need for some serious speed? Well, then, you’re in for a treat with Gran Turismo, the high-octane racing car thriller inspired by the hugely successful gaming franchise of the same name. Directed by District 9’s Neill Blomkamp, Gran Turismo tells the real-life story of gifted gamer Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a northern English lad who made the transition from driving online to getting behind the wheel for real, when he was selected for GT Academy after showcasing his virtual steering skills.
In a world where a film like Top Gun: Maverick exists, it’s fair to say that the bar for heavy machinery-based action movies like this is higher than ever. That’s a challenge that Blomkamp appears keen to take on – and Maverick’s pioneering approach to stunts (they were actually in the planes!) is something the director is embracing too. “It’s real actors, in real cars, on real race tracks, driving insanely quickly,” he tells Empire. What more could you want from a Gran Turismo movie?
The answer to that, according to Blomkamp, is character. Propulsive and gnarly as the action is, Blomkamp tells Empire that his main concern was putting audiences through the emotional chicanes too. “The north star for me was to make a videogame title with character work that propels the movie, even more so than the racing. Although the racing is bloody intense, too.” That character work stems primarily from Madekwe’s Jann, with a supporting cast including David Harbour (seen with Madekwe in our exclusive image above), Orlando Bloom, and actual Ginger Spice, Geri Horner, who play Jann’s trainer, PR guy and mother respectively. Slam it to the left – this one’s set to be a wild ride.
Read Empire’s full Gran Turismo story in the new Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 issue, on sale Thursday 13 April. Become an Empire member to access the digital edition instantly on launch day, or pre-order a print copy here. Gran Turismo is in cinemas from 11 August.