14 DAY TRIAL // The Grand Theft Auto franchise is one of the biggest names in the gaming industry, setting a new standard in terms of story, gameplay and the overall quality of the experience the player goes through.
But with the prestige and popularity with the gaming industry, many analysts wondered just when the franchise would tackle other branches of the entertainment industry, like movies. However, that stage won't arrive anytime soon, at least according to Rockstar’s co-founder and vice president, Dan Houser.
He talked with the LA Times and revealed that the big scope and the extended length of any GTA game just couldn't be compressed in an easy-to-digest movie of just 2 hours. He also said that, until a project that could equal the quality of the video games appeared, we wouldn't see any movie.
“We don't believe that the Grand Theft Auto games, which are massive in scope and structurally complex, can be adequately compressed into a two-hour movie,” Houser said. “It seems obvious to us that maintaining the long-term integrity of any entertainment property has been dependent on not making substandard spin-off products to people whose primary interest is making a quick buck. If we ever decide to do a film, it will be because we have resolved our creative doubts, and while retaining enough control to ensure that if the movie is terrible, at least we will know we ruined the property ourselves.”
After the release of the latest full-fledged iteration in the franchise, Grand Theft Auto IV, many critics and reviewers considered that the story presented in the title was worthy of an Oscar award, as it was very intricate and filled with emotions.
As many popular video game franchises are turning to the silver screen for an adaptation, Houser's statement doesn't completely exclude such a thing, but it's safe to say that at least for a few years we won't be rushing to the cinemas for GTA: The Movie.