Orlando Bloom Just Joined A Huge Video Game Adaptation
Orlando Bloom is starring in the new Gran Turismo movie
Orlando Bloom has been in adaptations of beloved books and theme park rides but he’ll be turning his attention to a video game adaptation next. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bloom will be co-starring with David Harbour and Archie Madekwe in the upcoming Gran Turismo. Neill Blomkamp is directing with a script from Jason Hall and Zach Baylin.
The Gran Turismo racing series are realistic racing sims developed for Playstation consoles with the most recent entry being Gran Turismo 7 on the Playstation 5. The movie, which is based on a true story, will follow a young Gran Turismo player whose skills win him a series of Nissan competitions leading him to become a professional race car driver. Archie Madekwe will play the young teen, David Harbour will play the retired driver who teaches him, and Orlando Bloom will play a motor racing marketing exec.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a proper full-length release from sci-fi director Neil Blomkamp. His 2021 film Demonic was quietly released, garnering widely negative reviews and bombing at the box office. Before that, Blomkamp had a relatively successful run of films from 2009 to 2015 with the incredible District 9 and the enjoyable Elysium and Chappie.
This team-up with Orlando Bloom should be an interesting one for the director who usually leans heavily into the sci-fi genre. A film based on a racing simulator game is a little left-field for everyone involved, but it definitely seems like it could be an interesting project. We’ll have to wait until its August 2023 release date to find out.
Orlando Bloom is fresh off filming the upcoming comedy from A24 Wizards. The film co-stars Pete Davidson and Naomi Scott and follows two beach bar operators who come across stolen loot. David Michod directs and co-writes the script with Joel Edgerton.
Orlando Bloom will also be leading the film Red Right Hand, which co-stars Garret Dillahunt and Andie MacDowell. Bloom stars Cash, a man who is pulled back into service to protect his town after trying to live a quiet life. Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms co-direct with a script from Jonathan Easley.
With Gran Turismo, Orlando Bloom will be a part of Sony Pictures and Playstation Productions’ big push to get more of their video game IPs on the big and small screen. The Uncharted movie with Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg was their most recent effort and the Gran Turismo will join HBO’s The Last of Us series for their 2023 releases. Other projects on the docket include films for Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, Gravity Rush, and Jak and Daxter and TV series for God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Twisted Metal.
It’ll be interesting to see how these video game adaptations fare since video game adaptations have historically been letdowns to fans and audiences alike. That has gradually changed with franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog and League of Legends Arcane finding critical and commercial success, so maybe Gran Turismo can add to that changing tide. One thing is for sure — hiring talent like Orlando Bloom for your video game adaptation can’t hurt.
