Archie Madekwe Revels in The Novelty of Playing the ‘Gran Turismo’ Video Game to Prep for the Film

Archie Madekwe’s Delight in Immersing Himself with ‘Gran Turismo’ Video Game for Film Role

Taking a spin down the cinematic lane, we find ourselves diving into the exciting world of “Gran Turismo,” a film that narrates the incredible journey of Jann Mardenborough, a gamer turned bona fide professional driver. But wait, there’s more! Behind the scenes, the talented Archie Madekwe, embodying the role of Mardenborough, dishes out how gaming became his portal into unlocking the character’s mindset. And with an ensemble cast featuring names like David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Djimon Hounsou, and even the iconic Geri Horner, this cinematic adventure is all set to hit theaters on the much-anticipated date of August 25.

Let’s get the wheels turning on the story itself: “Gran Turismo” revolves around the life of Jann Mardenborough, a young gaming enthusiast hailing from Cardiff, Wales. It’s a tale that straddles the realms of fantasy and reality, as Mardenborough’s life takes an unexpected turn. Imagine this: a teenage gamer being handed the golden opportunity of participating in the GT Academy. This groundbreaking program, partnered with the automobile giant Nissan, aims to transform virtual racers into actual racing drivers. And voila! Mardenborough races off the screens and into the track, evolving from gamer to pro.

Enter Archie Madekwe, the embodiment of Mardenborough’s tenacity and drive. It’s almost surreal that such a story could be true, yet Madekwe steps into those shoes with remarkable finesse. But here’s the kicker: not only did he embrace the role with utmost dedication, but he even took on the task of being his own stunt double during filming. As if that weren’t enough, Madekwe delved deep into Mardenborough’s world, not only through cars and tracks but also through a virtual controller.

Picture this: Archie Madekwe, fully in character, not only navigating real-world circuits but also virtually burning rubber on a PlayStation. Now, that’s a level of immersion that would make any gamer green with envy. Madekwe shared this amusing tidbit during an interview with FilmSweep’s Steve Weintraub, prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. He chuckled as he recounted, “Everyone was, number one, very jealous, and number two, everyone wanted to join in and come and help me prepare for work.” It’s not every day you get to justify your work as productive when it involves gaming, right?

Madekwe confessed that he wasn’t exactly a gaming aficionado while growing up, primarily due to his tendency to get completely absorbed in games for hours on end. He comically explained, “What have I done with my entire day?” And really, who among us hasn’t experienced that strange time warp that gaming can induce?

But here’s where it gets intriguing. Unlike his character’s on-screen dilemma of being accused by his father of squandering precious hours in front of a computer, Madekwe’s exploration of the virtual realm actually turned out to be a goldmine of insights into Mardenborough’s psyche. In fact, it wasn’t about idly spending time; it was about tapping into the character’s thoughts and emotions. Madekwe elaborated, “And it was this unbelievable opportunity to look past the shame of wasting the day, and being like, ‘I’m at work, I’m doing something productive. This is so great!'” It’s the kind of feeling many of us gamers secretly yearn for—turning leisure into something more profound.

In a rather hilarious twist, he added, “It’s not just me playing The Sims for six hours, like, I’m doing something. I’m doing something constructive! So, I mean, it was a dream come true. I love it.” It’s the ultimate ‘gamer’s guilt trip’ made constructive!

But “Gran Turismo” isn’t just about the riveting journey of Jann Mardenborough. This cinematic spectacle is fortified with a stellar cast. David Harbour takes on the role of retired racecar driver Jack Salter, Orlando Bloom steps into the shoes of Nissan marketing executive Danny Moore, and Djimon Hounsou portrays Jann’s father and former professional soccer player, Steve Mardenborough. Not to forget Geri Horner of Spice Girls fame, who graces the screen as Lesley Mardenborough.

As the engines roar and the excitement mounts, “Gran Turismo” is all set to zoom into theaters, promising an adrenaline-packed experience that merges the worlds of gaming, racing, and cinema. For a deeper dive into the minds behind the characters, be sure to check out our interview with Jann Mardenborough and the dynamic Archie Madekwe. So buckle up, movie buffs and gamers alike, as “Gran Turismo” takes you on a ride where reality and the virtual realm intersect in thrilling harmony.

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More about Immersive Entertainment

• Gran Turismo Movie: Official Trailer
• Archie Madekwe Interview on FilmSweep
• GT Academy: From Gamer to Pro Driver
• David Harbour’s Role in Gran Turismo
• Orlando Bloom’s Character in the Film
• Djimon Hounsou’s Performance in Gran Turismo
• Geri Horner’s Role as Lesley Mardenborough