Several years ago there was actually a Grand Theft Auto film project that was pitched to Rockstar Games with Top Gun director Tony Scott attached to helm and Eminem set to star. This potential project ended up reportedly being shot down by GTA co-creator Sam Houser, which is pretty crazy to me.
While speaking on the BBC podcast Bugzy Malone's Grandest Game, video game industry veteran Kirk Ewing, a friend of Houser's, recalls visiting the GTA creator and discussing the possibility of making a film based on the popular game franchise. He explained:
"This was just after Grand Theft Auto 3. And I think at that point, it was still in Sam's mind that it might be something that he wanted to do."
Ewing then revealed that at one point he received a call from a Hollywood agent with an enticing deal to bring GTA to the big screen. He said:
"I remember taking a call at about 4am from one of the producers in LA with an offer to make a film, and he said: 'Kirk, we've got Eminem to star, and it's a Tony Scott film, five million on the nose, are you interested?'"
Seems like a great deal! I actually would have loved to see Tony Scott direct a GTA movie! He would have been a great choice to direct that film, and Eminem could’ve totally worked! He was great in 8 Mile.
Ewing went on to call up Houser to discuss the offer with him, but the Rockstar head honcho was “not interested.” After that, there was no talk of a GTA movie. Why? Ewing explained:
"They realized that the media franchise that they had was bigger than any movie that was going on at the time.”
I’m sure that one day we will see a GTA movie get made, but damn, I would have loved to see what director Tony Scott would have done with the franchise. I can’t help but think he would have made a great GTA movie! It’s a shame that it’s something we’ll never get to see.
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