Paxton will play activist attorney Jack Thompson, who frequently attacked GTA, Houser and Rockstar Games. He made his name blasting media companies for pushing rap and sex onto the airwaves before turning his attention to video games. His unorthodox methods eventually led to his being disbarred in 2008 for inappropriate behavior.

British director Owen Harris, who directed episodes of Britain's Misfits and Black Mirror, is helming the drama, described as a two-hander written by James Wood.

The movie, slated to begin shooting April 20, is based on a book by David Kushner titled Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto. Game Changer is the project's working title.



Paxton last appeared in Nightcrawler with Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as Edge of Tomorrow with Tom Cruise. He is repped by UTA and Bloom Hergott.

4/17/2015: Story updated to correct that BBC Factual, not BBC FIlms, is making the film. Updated that the working title of the project is Game Changer not Grand Theft Auto

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