Hollywood has, in recent times, actually begun to crack the code on online game films. The spectacular success of diversifications resembling “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film” has cemented the truth that we have actually turned a nook in that regard. That being the case, nearly each main online game might be going to be focused by studios within the coming years, and Grand Theft Auto will undoubtedly be on that record. Apparently sufficient, although, a really glorious film set on the planet of GTA just lately hit theaters, and with the complete assist of GTA creator Rockstar Video games, no much less.
One could be forgiven for not understanding about it because it’s type of a small film, however the documentary “Grand Theft Hamlet” just lately hit theaters by way of the parents at Mubi. For individuals who aren’t conscious of it, because the title implies, it mashes collectively the worlds of GTA and William Shakespeare, with a gaggle of ragtag actors staging a manufacturing of “Hamlet” contained in the sprawling world of Grand Theft Auto On-line. It is as bonkers and pleasant because it sounds. I have been raving about it ever since I noticed it at SXSW final 12 months. The film is shot completely throughout the sport, with out a shred of live-action footage or any speaking heads.
I just lately had the nice fortune of talking with the movie’s administrators, Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, in honor of its launch. Throughout the dialog, I inquired as to how they obtained permission from Rockstar for the discharge. In spite of everything, we’re speaking a few multi-billion-dollar enterprise right here, one which the corporate certainly desires to guard. Thankfully, it wasn’t a difficulty as Rockstar very a lot understood what the filmmakers had been attempting to do. As Grylls defined:
“Rockstar really knew concerning the mission from fairly early on. When Sam made just a few very quick movies that he put onto YouTube, simply of him doing the opening scene of Hamlet with Mark … it type of went semi-viral, and we obtained phrase by means of individuals who we knew that individuals who labored for Rockstar had seen it they usually had been type of tickled by it.”
Grand Theft Hamlet is a love letter to Grand Theft Auto
It might definitely be one factor if Crane and Grylls had been attempting to make an adaptation of the sport indirectly, form, or type. In spite of everything, Hollywood got here calling previously and a giant a part of the explanation a “Grand Theft Auto” film by no means occurred is as a result of Rockstar is fairly protecting of the IP. However as Crane defined in our chat, the studio very a lot understood that the film is a love letter to the sport as a lot as it is a manufacturing of a beloved play:
“They by no means wished to have any type of management over it or make it their movie, however I feel they favored what we had been doing with it, mainly. It is fairly clear I feel that it is type of a love letter to the sport in some methods, as a lot as it’s a love letter to Shakespeare.”
It’s fascinating that this film continues a pattern of among the finest online game films being type of about video video games, slightly than direct diversifications of them. 2024 additionally noticed the discharge of Netflix’s criminally underseen “The Exceptional Lifetime of Ibelin,” which is targeted closely on “World of Warcraft,” however is not a story concerning the sport, per se. Different profitable films resembling “Free Man” and “Wreck-It Ralph” are, equally, for the love of video games, because it had been. Mercifully, Rockstar understood what these filmmakers had been attempting to do and did not get in the way in which of that over some misguided company directive.
You possibly can hear my full interview with the administrators on at the moment’s episode of the /Movie Every day podcast:
“Grand Theft Hamlet” is in theaters now.
