Speaking of movies, forget about seeing one based on Grand Theft Auto. The Los Angeles Times, examining Ubisoft's and Microsoft's entries into filmmaking, went asking why Rockstar hasn't thought of the same thing.
Turns out they have, and they didn't like the mental image. Says Dan Houser, the Rockstar vice president:
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, 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.
While that doesn't mean never-ever-never will they do a GTA movie, it does mean that you shouldn't expect one while the franchise is still producing games, thriving creatively, and a leading brand in its space - which is when third parties would be looking to make a fast buck. It sounds like the Housers would do a deal only at the end of the franchise's lifespan, when a bomb couldn't harm anything other than people's memory of the game.
Video Game Publishers Microsoft, Ubisoft Invading Hollywood's Turf [Los Angeles Times via GTA4.net, thanks Roy.]