Rockstar has turned down a Tony Scott-directed GRAND THEFT AUTO movie starring Eminem

Several years ago there was actually a Grand Theft Auto film project submitted to Rockstar Games with Top Guns director Tonino Scott attached to the rudder and Eminem starred. This potential project has reportedly been shot down by the co-creator of GTA Sam Houserwhich is pretty crazy to me.

Video game industry veteran Bugzy Malone’s Greatest Game speaking on BBC podcast Kirk Ewing, a friend of Houser’s, recalls visiting the creator of GTA and discussing the possibility of making a movie based on the popular game franchise. He explained:

“That was right after Grand Theft Auto 3. And I think at that point, Sam still had it in his mind that it might be something he wanted to do.”

Ewing later revealed that at one point he got a call from a Hollywood agent with an enticing deal to bring GTA to the big screen. He said:

“I remember getting a call about 4 in the morning from one of the producers in Los Angeles with an offer to do a movie, and he said, ‘Kirk, we have Eminem in the lead, and it’s a Tony Scott movie, five million dollar nose, are you interested?'”

Sounds like a great deal! I actually would have liked to see Tony Scott direct a GTA movie! She would have been a great choice to direct that film, and Eminem could have totally worked! He did great 8 miles.

Ewing kept calling Houser to discuss the offer with him, but the Rockstar boss “wasn’t interested”. After that, there was no talk of a GTA movie. How come? Ewing explained:

“They realized that the media franchise they had was bigger than any movie going on at the time.”

I’m sure we’ll see a GTA movie being made someday, but dammit, 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 it’s something we’ll never see.