The film Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story came to Archie Madekwe’s radar through a chance encounter.

“I met with one of the writers almost a year earlier [before he was cast]. He told me a story I had never heard before, and I was taken aback when I was sent the material – a couple of podcasts, interviews, YouTube videos,” shares Madekwe, who plays Jann Mardenborough, the real gamer-turned-professional racecar driver whose story the film is about. “I was really moved, because one thing that appeals to me as an actor is finding unknown, inspiring stories about people who look like me. When I was growing up, these stories – a young person achieving their dreams – were never told about a person whose face looked like mine. So I was unbelievably compelled to tell this story.”

The real Jann Mardenborough agrees. “I hope it shows kids that look like me that they can trust themselves and can go after what they love,” he says.

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/sM8xVZp2aKs

Like the character he plays, Madekwe had one hiccup when he began racing cars: he didn’t know how to drive. While working on another production, before Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story began shooting, he would shoot his scenes during the day, then sneak in a driving lesson in his evenings. 

“Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story” to hold sneak previews August 21 & 22

Orlando Bloom and David Harbour in
Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story

An underdog sports story based on the life of a real gamer-turned-racecar driver, Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story will have sneak preview screenings at regular run admission prices in cinemas nationwide on Monday August 21, and Tuesday August 22. Be among the first to catch the film – watch it a week before it begins its regular run on August 30. 

The film, which tells the story of Jann Mardenborough, a Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional racecar driver, stars David Harbour, Orlando Bloom and Archie Madekwe as Mardenborough. 

New trailer for “Gran Turismo” gives a glimpse into the intense and inspiring true story of racecar driver Jann Mardenborough

THIS. ACTUALLY. HAPPENED. See the INSANE TRUE STORY of Gran Turismo, in cinemas August 30. Watch the new trailer: 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/sM8xVZp2aKs

Archie Madekwe in Gran Turismo

Racecar driver Jann Mardenborough talks about his true story in “Gran Turismo” vignette

He dreamed the impossible to become an elite racer – experience the inspiring true story in Gran Turismo, exclusively in cinemas August 2023. Watch “The True Story” vignette: 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/CuZjzfLo5Mc   

About Gran Turismo

Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional racecar driver.

Directed by Neill Blomkamp, screenplay by Jason Hall and Zach Baylin, based on the PLAYSTATION STUDIOS video game.

Produced by Doug Belgrad, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Dana Brunetti. The executive producers are Kazunori Yamauchi, Herman Hulst, Jason Hall, Matthew Hirsch.

Start your engines as "Gran Turismo" revs up with first trailer

High speed brings higher stakes. 🚥 Columbia Pictures’ upcoming action-thriller Gran Turismo is the exhilarating true story of Jann Mardenborough, a gamer who became a real-life racecar driver. In cinemas soon across the Philippines. Watch the trailer.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/YmSxrljw6zY

About Gran Turismo

Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional racecar driver.

Directed by Neill Blomkamp, screenplay by Jason Hall and Zach Baylin, based on the PLAYSTATION STUDIOS video game.

Produced by Doug Belgrad, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Dana Brunetti. The executive producers are Kazunori Yamauchi, Herman Hulst, Jason Hall, Matthew Hirsch.