Gran Turismo is based on the true story of race car driver Jann Mardenborough, but the movie doesn't make it clear whether his mentor, Jack Salter (David Harbour), is a real person too. Neill Blomkamps 2023 racing movie puts a unique spin on video game adaptations, as it isn't solely based on the Gran Turismo game. Instead, the movie is based on the real-life GT Academy, which develops pro-gamers into real-life drivers. GT Academy recruits the greatest Gran Turismo players and trains them to become professional racers.