The Unbelievable True Story Behind the Gran Turismo Movie

The Unlikely Path to Professional Racing

The Gran Turismo movie is a unique video game adaptation in that it doesn’t take its story from the game itself, but rather a true story about the game. Its plot revolves around Gran Turismo player Jann Mardenborough, whose skills in the racing game take him to a string of Nissan-sponsored video game competitions. These then earn him the chance to get behind the wheel of a real race car and take those skills to an actual racetrack.

Gran Turismo Jann Mardenborough

The movie is directed by Neill Blomkamp, best known for helming the science fiction movies District 9, Elysium, and Chappie, and scripted by American Sniper’s Jason Hall and King Richard’s Zach Baylin. Along with the Uncharted movie starring Tom Holland and the HBO TV series adaptation of The Last of Us, Gran Turismo is a part of PlayStation Productions’ concerted effort to adapt its most popular gaming titles into live-action projects.

Gran Turismo movie poster with David Harbour, Archie Madekwe, and Orlando Bloom

But whereas those other adaptations brought in fictional characters and storylines from the source material, Gran Turismo takes its narrative and characters from the unbelievable true story of a gamer who became a professional race car driver.

Orlando Bloom with his arms crossed in Gran Turismo

The Rise of Jann Mardenborough

Jann Mardenborough, born in Darlington, County Durham, England in 1991, is the son of former professional footballer Steve Mardenborough. In the Gran Turismo movie, Jann Mardenborough is played by Archie Madekwe, a British actor best known for his role in Apple TV's series, See. His father is portrayed by Djimon Hounsou, known for his roles in Gladiator and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, while his mother, Lesley Mardenborough, is played by Geri Halliwell, famously known as “Ginger Spice” from the Spice Girls.

Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough racing a car in Gran Turismo.

Mardenborough's journey began as an avid player of the Gran Turismo series on PlayStation. His prowess as a Gran Turismo player eventually led to a career as a professional race car driver when he made it to the GT Academy. He enjoyed the Gran Turismo racing simulation games because they gave him the chance to “drive cars I’d probably never, ever get to drive.” His years of gaming eventually allowed him to live out his “childhood dream,” which he found “very fulfilling.”

Jann in a racing suit in Gran Turismo

After winning a series of competitions with his Gran Turismo gaming skills, Jann Mardenborough earned a spot in the GT Academy. In 2011, he beat out 90,000 other entrants to become the third and youngest winner of the GT Academy competition, which earned him the opportunity to drive for Nissan at the Dubai 24-hour race.

Jann on the racetrack in Gran Turismo

The Visionary Behind GT Academy

The GT Academy, also known as the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy, was committed to giving the best Gran Turismo players an opportunity to take their video game racing skills to a real-life racetrack with the aim of launching a professional racing career. The academy was funded by Nissan and Sony Interactive Entertainment from 2008 to 2016.

Gamers at the GT Academy in Gran Turismo

The academy was conceived by British businessman and motorsport marketing executive, Darren Cox. He first came up with the idea for the GT Academy in 2005 when he was a general manager at Nissan Europe, but the idea wasn’t implemented until Sony and Nissan partnered up to form the Nissan GT Academy in 2008. Out of the 23 graduates from Cox’s academy, both Jann Mardenborough and Lucas Ordóñez achieved podiums in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Jann walking through the halls in Gran Turismo training

Cox’s role in the formation of the GT Academy and the launching of Mardenborough’s career is covered in the Gran Turismo movie. However, whereas in the film Mardenborough maintains his real name, the Cox character is fictionalized enough that the screenwriters changed his name to Danny Moore, played by Legolas actor Orlando Bloom.

David Harbour as Jack Salter walking on the pit lane in Gran Turismo