The wait was nearly over, and the green flag was set to wave on August 11 for the release of “Gran Turismo,” Sony’s film adaptation of its sim racing series of the same name. However, the launch of the film has now been pushed back two weeks.
Fear not, Sony hasn’t lost confidence in the film, the new premier date, August 25, is one of a large number of adjustments to Sony’s production schedule. The studio says that the changes are being made as a result of the ongoing writers’ strike.
While writers and actors fight for better contracts, many projects are being delayed, and studios are planning for some of the longer-term effects of that. Collider reports that some larger projects, such as “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” are being postponed to give them more time in post-production. Meanwhile, some films, like “Kraven the Hunter,” will be delayed by as much as a year.
Read: Nissan Tells The Story Of What The Gran Turismo Academy Was Really Like
Although “Gran Turismo“‘s press cycle was already in full swing, and its release date nearing, pushing it back two weeks could allow Sony to stretch out its schedule to give other films more time, without messing with its chances at success.
Now set to premier on August 25, it will go into theaters competing against a film called “White Bird,” which should give it good odds of topping the charts, while still allowing it to come out in the late summer.
Based on the real-life story of Jann Mardenborough, a Gran Turismo player who participated in Nissan’s GT Academy in 2011 and earned himself a real life racing seat, the film will tell a dramatized version of what it was actually like to participate in the unprecedented program.