Rockstar caps Eminem/GTA movie reports

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Feb 5, 2008 3:26 pm PT

Last year, the film-industry press was abuzz with the false starts and (eventual) indefinite suspension of the film adaptation of Halo. Now, according to Hollywood trade Variety, another top-tier game franchise, Grand Theft Auto, was itself being quietly readied for the big screen at the same...

Last year, the film-industry press was abuzz with the false starts and (eventual) indefinite suspension of the film adaptation of Halo. Now, according to Hollywood trade Variety, another top-tier game franchise, Grand Theft Auto, was itself being quietly readied for the big screen at the same time--until the whole project unraveled.

A Monday post on Variety's newly established Cut Scene game blog claimed that Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive apparently was in advanced negotiations with an unnamed movie studio. The talks were so advanced, claims the trade, that Variety already had prewritten stories ready and rapper Eminem was being approached for the lead. However, like the Halo film, the GTA movie deal reportedly "fell apart...at the last minute."

[UPDATE] Since its posting on Monday, Variety's story aroused much interest in the game industry. Then, on Tuesday, it also elicited a denial from Rockstar North head Dan Houser, who told MTV News' Stephen Totilo that "Rockstar was not involved in this project in any way, shape or form."

"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," Houser told MTV News. "This proposal was no more interesting than the numerous others we receive. We never entertained proceeding with the project."

So will there ever be a GTA movie? Not likely, says Houser. "It is not something we are currently interested in," was his blunt assessment.

240 Comments

  • jamesknoxpolk

    Posted Sep 28, 2009 1:40 pm PT

    eminem is awesome the should have done it!!!!!!!

  • MrOfficerDonut

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 6:12 am PT

    I dont understand this what the hell does eminem have to do with this?

  • 09297210286

    Posted Jan 20, 2009 10:03 am PT

    i want dota how to download dota??

  • Canada-Man

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 4:02 pm PT

    I would have been like watching someone else play GTA ( probably horribly when u look at the history games 2 movies (they dont turnout well)). while we sit there and get p-o'd because its not what we would have done with the freedom of GTA IV. I think it wouldnt turn out well, and would tarnish GTA's good rep of quality.

  • chief_fargo

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 5:12 pm PT

    Why would you make a GTA movie in the first place when GTAs entire storyline, or storylines, were based on past movies that are much better than any movie that has come out in the past 10 years. I recently saw Repo Man on the free movies section of comcast on demand. It made me want to play some GTA again, and now im definately getting GTA IV the second it gets released.

    GTA is too good for hollywood, it takes their ideas and makes them better.

  • Twisted14

    Posted Feb 22, 2008 3:57 pm PT

    I don't think there is a need for a movie. The games are cinematic enough.

  • gynotikolobomas

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 4:35 pm PT

    The GTA franchise is already a homage to great movies in existence. GTA3 = Godfather meets The Casino. Vice City was Scarface through and through. San Andreas was grateful to Paid in Full and Natural Born Killaz! Making a GTA movie would be an homage to a game that is homage to various movies! Downright ridiculous!
    Besides, it would have flopped, as most game-based movies do.

    Still waiting for GTAIV

  • Nintendus21

    Posted Feb 12, 2008 10:11 am PT

    Well, I wouldn't want the series to mess up, so thank God for no movie, but Eminem wouldn't be bad, he did well in 8 Mile. And he's a great rapper, much more talented than Soulja Boy Tell 'Em.

  • CCyberDDemon

    Posted Feb 12, 2008 8:56 am PT

    yeeah. thanks to god, we will not have gta on the big screen... it will ruin GTA's reputation just like L.A. did to all others games (...little exception for tombraider)

  • Devbinks

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 6:36 pm PT

    Eminem!? Thank god things didn't work out. He, alone would have ruined it for me x_x

  • darkness7201

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 4:17 pm PT

    o....k....???

  • coolguy6127

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 1:02 pm PT

    They are probably gonna make a movie tying up loose-ends after the events of GTA Vice City, but making it like a god father movie, having three parts.

  • Fantact

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 9:37 am PT

    Actually there kinda was a GTA Movie, the Intro/cut-scene thingie from GTA 2, you can find it on youtube

  • jaza1200

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 8:03 am PT

    And eminem aint italian, WHAT IS UP WITH THAT.

  • jaza1200

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 8:01 am PT

    Why would they make a movie, thats just wrong.

  • Red83

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 5:08 am PT

    Thank god!! Hitman movie where more than enough for me total crap!!!

  • generalbigmac

    Posted Feb 10, 2008 4:58 pm PT

    to bad its eminem as the lead in the movie it will ruin the movie and probably end up ruining the game for a lot of people

  • supahmario

    Posted Feb 10, 2008 11:42 am PT

    The problem I see with video game to movie adaptations, these days, is that the majority of those films weren't either well scripted, properly planned, directed by uwe "bowels", rushed to coincide with film release date, or all of the above. In short, film makers just see a possible way to make a quick buck than actually seeing a potential "classic". GTA, like bloodrayne..alone in the dark..house of the dead and etc. are memorable games, even classics. Their storylines, I feel, are ever bit as good as the films we see coming out of hollywood...some (videogames), sadly, are way better than others. The point i'm driving at here is GTA, HOD, BloodRayne, Super Mario Bros., etc. deserve their chance on the silverscreen. GTA CAN make a great movie, but we need the following in order for it to become a great movie: time and patience needed in order to make a good script, a director that could capture the essence of GTA (that thing we all know and love) and adapt it well on the silverscreen, find actors/actresses that fits the look and feel of GTA...I don't give a care if they have to find indie actors, do not stray away from the GTA formula, keep in mind that big budget doesn't necessarily make great films and to low a one might not do the film justice, etc...

    All of that being said i'm a glad the deal fell through, for now, because maybe this will give Rockstar and whoever the chance to review our comments and take in consideration that we are the people they're making the film for. WE are the ones who even much gave the GTA a try instead of leaving it on the shelves and fell in love with the series, even though it can be repetitive. So, we the gamers should be first and foremost on their minds when it comes to creating a GTA movie..."how can we please our fans?"...the rest will fall in place. IF the movie meets our expectations...I GUARANTEE IT WILL BE AN OFFICE BOX HIT (may even be bigger than TRANSFORMERS)!!!

  • BDL91

    Posted Feb 10, 2008 3:44 am PT

    lol if u made a vice city movie if would just be scarface re-made

  • Del_The_Prophet

    Posted Feb 8, 2008 6:55 am PT

    GTA wouldn't work as a movie. It would be lame. It would be like 100 anti-hero, ghetto movies made during the 90's. Please, don't make this ever happen.

  • rpgisforme

    Posted Feb 8, 2008 6:25 am PT

    okay I think everyone has lost sight of one thing. Historically games have not made good movies, .. granted. BUT! Who cares? So they make another game into a movie and it flops, WHO CARES? Ya don't like it then don't go see it. It's not going to harm the game any. People are still gonna know and love GTA games for what they are. So who cares if it gets made or not, or who plays the leading role. It's not like a bad movie interpretation suddenly makes all the games suck!

  • shortys1803

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 6:47 pm PT

    If they ever do a movie they better take their time and make it good i would hate to hate gta

  • Arnoco

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 6:12 pm PT

    I think vice city would be a good movie

  • prioritymail

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 11:17 am PT

    Eminem playing an Italian!? It already sounds iffy...

  • MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 3:38 am PT

    eminem? why not get uwe boll to direct too for the ultimate slaughter of another game franchise.

  • les_pinner-3

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 2:40 am PT

    There has already been a GTA movie and that came out while Happy Days was out, cause the guy with the ginger hair from Happy Days was in it. So I dont think there will be a GTA movie until GTA IV comes out, then some movie productions will start planning to film one. Keep on gaming folks!

  • charlie5957

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 1:03 am PT

    I think the movie is a bad idea and probably shoudn't be made.
    Eminem is probably not the best decision to make as the actor because he really doesn't remind me of Niko for one. To all the people who think Eminem has no talent are clearly blind. He did a good job in 8 mile and is a really good rapper. Fabolous is still my favourite rapper though. Eminem second

  • freakyl-

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 12:48 am PT

    We all know, it probably would have managed to disappoint us in some way or another. And Eminem as the lead, what were they thinking?

  • majestikk

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 11:38 pm PT

    THANK GOD!!!!!!!

  • BigSmitts07

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 10:38 pm PT

    i dont even see how they could make GTA into a movie...at least a realsitic one...i feel that GTA is just 1 of those games that doesnt have the story or mojo fo be anything more then an elite video game...no halo or mass effect on the other hand....

  • DarkManiaN_1979

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 6:01 pm PT

    meh

  • parry2323

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 5:05 pm PT

    Would've sucked like the Hitman movie.

  • GTAmadmaster73

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 3:09 pm PT

    lame the IV wouldve been good story line, but not good on screen.

  • bertm1975

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 2:58 pm PT

    I wouldn't want a GTA movie. Movie execs would simply ruin it by appealing to various groups, adding a comedic sidekick, a love interest, and make the main character more of an anti-hero than a criminal. And they would try to make it PG-13 to appeal to the teen audience. I could see a GTA TV series, maybe on FX , HBO, or Showtime. It would allow time for the characters to develop, and after a show like The Shield, I think FX could really pull it off

  • Cablestein

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 2:57 pm PT

    I think a GTA movie would work, and Eminem would do a great job in it.

  • psaketh007

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 2:23 pm PT

    who is the dumbass behind this?

  • T1MBO

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 1:59 pm PT

    "phew!"

  • XXMadManVII

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 1:58 pm PT

    We should be thankful that another crappy video game movie will not be made. Hollywood needs to stop trying to cash in on the video game industry's success.

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 1:24 pm PT

    Dude, stop with naming the action movie stars. You could easily make a GTA film...I mean, it would just be a gangster film basically. All you would have to do is have the satirical sense of humor and as long as it would feel like the game, there wouldn't be a problem. I mean, it would just be a gangster film.

  • lionheartssj1

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 1:12 pm PT

    Come on you guys!! If we can Uwe Boll on board.....imagine the possibilities!!.......so....awesome

    But seriously.........I almost did a facepalm, this is such a stupid idea.

  • Petri87

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 12:49 pm PT

    well i cant blame anyone for not being interrested in a game to movie.... movie but i think Eminem would have been perfect for a GTA lead role. He was pretty good in 8 miles, although the movie wasnt all that great

  • Sparky2002

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 12:13 pm PT

    GTA AS A MOVIE IS JUST WRONG,

    ALL FUN & GAMES WHEN ITS GAME WORLD
    BUT TO IMMORTALISE SUCH VIOLENCE & ANARCHY IS JUST WRONG PLAN WRONG............

  • acidetched

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 12:12 pm PT

    A movie would be cool, but if they do it, it HAS to be true to the source material; that means, while its incredibly bloody and full of violence, its tempered with the tongue-in-cheek humor that GTA is known for. I'd rather not see any big name actors- I feel it will take away from the source material.

  • DonAntono

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 11:51 am PT

    haha... could almost see the movie before my eyes=P.. a guy running around with many guns, shooting every person he sees x) thank god the movie fell apart^^

  • xTheExploited

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 11:35 am PT

    A film about GTA would be one of the most generic movies ever. There must be hundreds of films about the sort of stuff that happens in GTA. GTA movie not good, GTA game great, plus the GTA stories are nothing special just alright, the gameplay is the moneymaker.

  • AnimeNewtype

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 11:34 am PT

    First off, the GTA story has already been used in countless films. It's just a generic story about a guy who commits crimes for his own agenda. There's tons of movies already like that.

    Also, Eminem sucks at everything he does. Unless he's doing some gangster film about smoking weed and having sex with hookers, since that's all he really does. I'm glad they're not making this film. It would just give the politicians something else to whine about.

  • FrankenLife

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 11:28 am PT

    It think it is funny that everyone who liked eminem or vin diesel got hit with lots of negatives. I agree that there shouldn't be a GTA movie. Goodfellas is an awesome movie of a nobody rising to power in the mob. How could they possibly make anything better than Goodfellas?

  • rampage720

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 11:19 am PT

    Making a movie would be a waste of a good storyline that could potentially be used in future Grand Theft Auto games. Stay off the silver screen unless you are promoting a video game ROCKSTAR. Its for the good of all your fans.

  • JackfnBurton

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 11:13 am PT

    I think a GTA flick is something a LOT of people are not interested in, myself for one. But if the franchise keeps making money and gaining in popularity, it will probably be inevitable. It's all about the Benjamins, and despite one's best efforts to remain true to one's convictions it can and has been said that everyone has their price. Even Rockstar. So get ready people, it may not be Uwe Boll and it may not be Brett Ratner but if we keep snapping up millions of copies of GTA games the way we have in the past, we will eventually be rewarded with a movie knockoff. Will it be good? Will it suck? Well, we can always hope but deep down inside we all know the answer. Burton Out.

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