'Grand Theft Auto' Movie Starring Eminem Rejected By Rockstar Games

Rockstar Games declined an offer for a "Grand Theft Auto" movie starring Eminem, an insider has claimed.

"State of Emergency" developer Kirk Ewing, a friend of Rockstar Games founders Sam and Dan Houser, told the BBC podcast "Bugzy Malone's Grandest Game" that an unidentified Hollywood agent approached him more than two decades ago with an offer of $5 million for the rights to a "GTA" movie that would star the rapper.

Ewing claimed that the agent said the film would be directed by Tony Scott, helmer of the hit Tom Cruise-starrer "Top Gun." But Sam rejected the offer, according to the video game industry veteran.

Ewing recalled tracking Sam to a hotel, where the two stayed up late to discuss the possibility of making a "GTA" movie.

"I think at that point it was still in Sam's mind that it might be something that he wanted to do," Ewing told the podcast.

He claimed a Los Angeles producer called him with the offer.

"He said, 'Kirk we've got Eminem to star, and it's a Tony Scott film - $5 million on the nose. Are you interested?'" he recalled. "[Then] I phoned up Sam and I said 'Listen to this. They want Eminem in the 'Grand Theft Auto' movie and Tony Scott to direct, and he said, 'Not interested.'"

Ewing said that it was the last time either brother "discussed" bringing "GTA" to the big screen.

"At that point, they withdrew from any conversation about making a film when they realized that the media franchise that they had was bigger than any movie that was going on at the time," he concluded.

International Business Times could not independently verify the claims.

According to Ewing, the offer came as the Housers were talking about a movie tie-in following the release of "GTA 3" in 2001.

The third installment in the "GTA" franchise became a hit, laying the "groundwork" for the rest of the series, BBC reported.

In the same year, Eminem, 50, achieved two milestones in his career. His record-breaking album "Marshall Mathers" became the fastest-selling studio album in the United States at the time, and he wrapped up filming of the semi-biographical film "8 Mile," which was loosely based on his story and the early days of his rap career.

"GTA 5" became the best-selling video game in the industry in 2013, breaking at least seven Guinness World Records in a span of 24 hours. Five years later, it was also declared the most profitable entertainment product of all time by MarketWatch, beating record-breaking movies such as 2009's "Avatar," the first-ever film to surpass $2.9 billion at the global box office.

Rockstar Games confirmed earlier this year that "GTA 6" was in the early stages of development.

"With every new project we embark on, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we have previously delivered — and we are pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway," the studio announced via a statement released through its official website, before adding that fans should stay tuned for more updates.

Although the studio has yet to give an exact release date, it was rumored that it could arrive by 2024 or 2025, the BBC reported.

Back in September, early development footage of the game was leaked online, but Rockstar Games said that it would not have any "long-term effect" on its plans for the title.

A "Grand Theft Auto" movie may not have pushed through, but several stars, including Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Liotta, Ricky Gervais and Frankie Boyle, have been part of the voice cast of various "GTA" sequels.

The "Lose Yourself" rapper also appeared in the game's soundtrack. He was featured in Dr. Dre's single recorded for the "GTA Online" expansion pack.