Video games and movies have always had a contentious relationship. Although video games based on films can sometimes lead to some impressive results, such as our list of the top 10 movie tie-in games, all too often the projects are little more than shovelware, hastily produced to cash in on the film they are meant to represent. This can do more harm than simply poor reviews: director J.J. Abrams stated that 2013's Star Trek: The Video Game hurt the franchise as a whole.
If anything, the results are even worse when video games are translated to the silver screen. Although John Leguizamo, who played Luigi in 1993's Super Mario Bros. The Movie, says he is "proud" of the adaptation, Mario star Bob Hoskins referred to the film as the worst thing he ever did. The film was a box-office and commercial flop, but Mario may have another chance to hit the big screen yet. Sony's recent email leak revealed that the company may be working on an animated Super Mario movie.
A number of huge video game franchises are rushing to make the move to feature films. In 2013 it was revealed that Gran Turismo would have a full-length movie, and now details have been released about who may helm the project. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony are currently in talks with Joseph Kosinski, most famous for his work on Oblivion and Tron: Legacy.
Gran Turismo may seem like a strange choice for a film adaptation, but there is a positive precedent to be found. 2014's Need for Speed may have been a critical failure, but was a huge commercial hit. One concern, however, may be Gran Turismo's complete lack of story; The Need for Speed series has at least held a narrative during certain games. Kosinski's previous films have looked impressive but have lacked any real impact, meaning that a successful Gran Turismo script may need some real emphasis placed on the story.
Recent years have certainly seen video game movies receive a larger profile. Formerly the home of cheap-looking adaptations, we have instead had high-budget titles such as Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. There are more video game feature films in the works, too. Assassin's Creed is currently scheduled for a theatrical release in December 2016, and it has been announced that Ubisoft Motion Pictures' debut feature will include Oscar winner Marion Cotillard in the cast.
Meanwhile, details on Gran Turismo 7 are still thin on the ground. The next video game iteration of the racing franchise has been in development for some time, but Polyphony Digital has been coy about the PS4 exclusive. Polyphony Digital head Kazunori Yamauchi has revealed that the title will release in either 2015 or 2016, and that fans will see an "incredible difference" between Gran Turismo 7 and its predecessor. We'll have more details as they come.
Source: Hollywood Reporter