Rockstar said no to a GTA movie starring Eminem

William Davis Published 15/11/2022

GTA and Rockstar founders Sam and Dan Houser rejected an offer to produce a movie starring rapper Eminem, Kirk Ewing has revealed in an interview.

According to Ewing, who is friends with the Houser brothers, an agent approached them with an offer for the GTA movie rights. The deal would see the Houser brothers getting paid $5 million. The movie would star rapper Marshall “Eminem” Mathers and would be directed by Top Gun director Tony Scott. The Houser brothers were simply not interested in the project.

It happened in 2002, a year after the release of GTA 3 and before the release of GTA: Vice City. At this point, Eminem was a sought-after actor because of his hit role in 8 Mile.

“They realized that the media franchise that they had was bigger than any movie that was going on at the time,” Kirk added in the interview.

While disappointing to some fans, it was ultimately the right call for the Houser brothers. In 2018, GTA V became the most profitable entertainment product of all time. GTA V, released in 2013, has sold over 90 million copies worldwide and amassed $6 billion in revenue. At the time, it surpassed the Star Wars franchise ($4 billion) and James Cameron’s Avatar ($2.8 billion) in gross revenue. GTA V sold more copies than GTA 3, GTA 4, Vice City, and San Andreas combined.

The report didn’t include revenue from GTA Online, a successful game on its own with tens of thousands of daily players. GTA continues to be one of the most popular franchises and players are impatiently waiting for the next installment.

What year will GTA 6 be based in?

Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 would be coming out in 2024 or 2025 when footage of the game leaked back in September. According to some rumors, the game could be set in modern-day Vice City. It would be the first time the franchise returns to the city since the 2002 game of the same title.

Read Also

Slots

How to play Stake’s GTA-themed Drop the Boss 2: Maralago game Hannan Mundia After the success of the first Drop the Boss game, Mirror Image Gaming has released a GTA-themed sequel with even more quirky references. This game is exclusively at Stake, and the casino is no stranger to releasing games with surreal  themes. The Drop the Boss game is the perfect example of something that could never see the light of day on gaming platforms such as Steam and the PlayStation Store. ...

GTA

Rockstar confirms GTA 6 pre-orders and reveals cover art Ben Boland GTA 6’s long-awaited release is a step closer, with Rockstar Games confirming that pre-orders will begin on June 25. The studio also revealed the official cover art, giving fans belief that the game is now set for release as scheduled on November 19, 2026. Announcing the news on social media platforms, including X and YouTube, the studio said: "Pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI will officially begin on June 25 ...

Kick

Here’s how GTA RP streamers can get verified faster on Kick Fariha Bhatti Kick is teaming up with a GTA roleplay server for the first time ever, offering streamers a fast track to visibility and a shot at official Kick partnership. Getting verified on Kick is one of the toughest hurdles for new streamers, and it’s not exactly a surprise. Hundreds of new creators join the platform every day, all after the verified checkmark and hoping to eventually qualify for the Kick Partner ...

Esports Betting

Sony’s State of Play has transformed the 2026 and 2027 game release schedule Michael Hassall Sony’s State of Play on June 2 was one of the most exciting showcases of what we can expect from the gaming world in the next six months, with some major statement title bookmarking a solid line-up of returning classics and new favorites. From the thrilling opening with Wolverine and Marvel characters taking the lead, to the closing moments with God of War Laufey punctuating both the God of War ...

GTA

GTA 6 delay fears cool as Take-Two CEO reaffirms November release date Zachary Roberts There's been plenty of speculation about the GTA 6 release date. When a game is delayed as many times as this one has been, that shouldn't be a surprise. Games are often announced without a release date. Then, they get a release window after which a final date is revealed. But when that date is pushed back more than a couple of times, there's reasonable doubt about every date announced ...

GTA

Everything we know about GTA 6 pre-orders Zachary Roberts Looking for GTA 6 pre-orders? You're certainly not the only one. Plenty of gamers are anxious for the launch of the game. Pre-ordering helps remove some of the stress of having to get the game on launch day when stores and digital retailers will be overwhelmed by the demand. Where can you get them? When? Here's everything you need to know. For now, there aren't any active GTA 6 pre-orders. ...

GTA

When is the GTA 6 next trailer? Latest Trailer 3 rumors explained Zachary Roberts Looking for GTA 6's next trailer? Plenty of the world is, as anticipation for this title continues to rise. It has perhaps been the most anticipated video game of all time since its initial announcement, despite multiple delays. Every crumb of marketing is gobbled up. We've seen two trailers so far, with both doing an excellent job of building the hype. Naturally, a third one before the November 19 release ...