Exclusive: District 9 director Neill Blomkamp is braving the world of video game movie adaptations.
He tells us what makes Gran Turismo stand out from the crowd!
This article appears in the new issue ofDEN OF GEEKmagazine.
How do you adapt a racing simulator to film?
My initial response was, you cant make a movie out of that, he tellsDen of Geekmagazine.
I never imagined myself directing a car movie or asports movie.
Its continually surprising to me that I made this, he says with sincerity.
Remarkably, he placed third and continues to lead a successful pro racing career to this day.
Blomkamp knew that Mardenboroughs story was the key to bringing the story-less game to the big screen.
While he sustained no serious injuries, one spectator was killed.
The assumption by some was that we would Hollywood-ize the tragedy, but we dont Hollywood-ize it at all.
Its one hundred percent truthful to what Jann went through.
Blomkamps commitment to authenticity can be felt in the movies blistering race scenes as well.
But FPV drones are relatively new.
Im pretty sure there are no race films that have used drones in the way weve used them.
For Blomkamp, capturing the intensity of the sport was crucial.
Race cars are really gnarly metals and gears and burning petroleum and exhaust heat, he says.
I could not have been more explicit about the cars that I wanted in the movie, he recalls.
But you have to match that up to what the studio is willing to spend.
Sony really doubles down on theatrical releases, which is becoming more and more rare, Blomkamp says.
I really appreciate howSonyis approaching this film as far as making sure its on a lot of screens.
I didnt realize how important that was to me… but it actually is very important.
Gran Turismoopens in theaters on Aug. 11.
