RIPER Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 (edited) The Grand Theft Auto movie that almost wasWith the release of "Grand Theft Auto IV" coming up -- and, let's be honest, my wanting to start this blog off with a bang -- I thought it was worth letting readers know about a major story in the intersection of Hollywood and videogames, arguably the biggest ever, that almost happened last spring. For years, everyone in Hollywood has wanted to get their hands on "Grand Theft Auto." Big name producers and senior execs at major studios all did their best to convince Rockstar to give up the film rights to their franchise. But the brothers Houser were reluctant, and who can blame them? "Grand Theft Auto" is a huge cash cow and has a bigger profile in the young male demo than most TV shows and movies. And God knows there have been a lot of awful videogame-based movies that hurt the property more than they helped. So, even amongst those able to navigate the Rockstar bureaucracy and talk to the right people, the answer was always "no." But last year, something changed. By the spring, a deal was virtually in place with one of the six major studios to start developing a "Grand Theft Auto" movie. Eminem was quite possibly going to star. I can't be sure of the reasons why Rockstar was finally open to a movie deal, though I suspect it had to do with the new management at parent company Take 2. This was soon after the board was ousted following a financial scandal. The new (and current) chairman, Strauss Zelnick, has significant ties to the traditional media industry given his previous posts as CEO of BMG music and president of 20th Century Fox. How close was this deal to happening? Reporters at Variety (and, I have since learned, other publications) were preparing their stories based on conversations with the studio in question. Internally at Take 2, people were talking about it as a done deal. Then at the last minute, it all fell apart. I'm told Take 2 couldn't finalize terms with the studio, though I'm not sure if it was a purely financial issue or if, in the end, the publisher got cold feet about giving away rights to its baby. Who knows if Rockstar will ever be willing to make a movie deal again. But for those who think that in principle the publisher would never be interested, last year's events prove them wrong. Perhaps one day it'll happen. Maybe even before the "Halo" film. Source (Edit: Damn there's another one in IV section. Sorry ) Edited February 5, 2008 by RIPER Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintdave Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Yes and even this is in the wrong place! You want the Movies & TV section Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057472721 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagga rabbit Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 They better come up with a different title..that one's been done already. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076100/ Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057473557 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 It's not happening, though. This is just a hype story. Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057473613 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubbyJ Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 If R* does ever intend to let the movie rights go, let's just pray that the project never falls into Uwe Boll's hands. The world would explode from the gayness. Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057473867 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagga rabbit Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Maybe Tarantino would be interested. Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057473908 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubbyJ Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Maybe Tarantino would be interested. The world would explode due to awesomeness on that one. In a perfect world of mine, that's who would be directing it. Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057473999 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnyboy Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Only good GTA Movie Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057474140 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jebness Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Eminem staring? Nothx. That guy from Burn Notice would be mint for it. Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057474749 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTA3Freak-2001 Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Eminem staring? Nothx. That guy from Burn Notice would be mint for it. Hey you know you may be onto something, I've been enjoying Burn Notice and of course Bruce Campbell's character, I really think that show kinda of captures the way crime and criminal activities are handled in GTA. It doesn't take itself to seriously so if the guys behind Burn Notice get their hands on permission to do a GTA movie I think its the only way a GTA movie could work. Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057474864 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagga rabbit Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 If Tarantino did it like "Pulp Fiction" it could be a classic. Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057475399 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Jensen Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Eminem? Hell no. Than guy cant act for sh*t. One would think he can act cause hes often in front of cameras. But in the movie he looks lost and has no idea whats going on around him Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057475965 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californian Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I don't want a movie with real-life actors. If any, i would want some kind of movie like from the cutscenes in the games! (since it's a movie, it would be 1:30-2hrs long) Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057504505 Share on other sites More sharing options...
geomy Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Denounced by Houser. Some movie producers were trying to put something together to entice us to make a movie, as studios and production teams frequently have done in the past. This proposal was no more interesting than the numerous others we receive. We never entertained proceeding with the project... Rockstar was not involved in this project in any way, shape or form... It [a GTA movie] is not something we are currently interested in. Who'da thunkit? Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057505300 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagga rabbit Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 (edited) Thank God it won't happen. The last thing we need is the GTA franchise ruined by a lame movie. http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/variety-...lmost-happened/ Edited February 14, 2008 by bagga rabbit Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057506410 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazeLaze Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 No....... Please no, GTA is all about free roam You can't free roam in a f*cking movie..... Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057541242 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikesta Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 No....... Please no, GTA is all about free roam You can't free roam in a f*cking movie..... Dumbass. You can see a person free roam in a movie, you know. The idea of a Gta movie is captivating. I don't think it's going to happen though. It's probably all hype. Link to comment https://gtaforums.com/topic/310500-the-grand-theft-auto-movie-is-nearby/#findComment-1057541370 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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