Film company Altitude Media Group has acquired a documentary set entirely within the world of Grand Theft Auto 5, titled Grand Theft Hamlet, as reported by Deadline.

The documentary will follow the journey of Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen, two players with theater backgrounds in the UK who utilized the COVID-19 lockdown as an opportunity to recreate Shakespeare’s Hamlet within Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 5. With ample time on their hands and a bleak outlook on the future, they embark on a challenging adventure, encountering griefers and discovering profound truths about life. The full synopsis reads:

“In January 2021, the UK is in its third lockdown with all entertainment venues closed. Theatre actors Sam and Mark are faced with a grim future. As the pandemic persists, Mark, single and childless, becomes increasingly socially isolated, while Sam frets over supporting his young family. Spending their days in the online world of Grand Theft Auto, they stumble upon a theater, sparking the idea to stage a full production of Hamlet within the game. This film chronicles their absurd, comical, and moving journey as they confront violent griefers and uncover surprising realities about life, friendship, and the enduring impact of Shakespeare.”

The film, written and directed by Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, is set to make its global debut at the SXSW Film Festival on March 10. Following this, Altitude plans to release the documentary in UK and Irish theaters later in 2024.

Altitude Film Sales Managing Director Mike Runagall expressed, “We are extremely proud and excited to be partnering with Pinny, Sam, and the whole team on Grand Theft Hamlet and cannot wait for audiences to experience this singular and masterful piece of machinima filmmaking. Grand Theft Hamlet is like nothing you have seen before.”

The lockdown due to COVID-19 has led to a surge in creativity within the gaming community. This documentary is another example of how players have found innovative ways to use in-game platforms for artistic expression. For instance, in Fallout 76, players formed The Wasteland Theatre Company, recreating classic plays such as A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Grand Theft Auto 5 was originally released in 2013, and now, over a decade later, Rockstar is preparing to launch its successor, Grand Theft Auto 6. While details about the project's approach to online multiplayer remain unknown, it is evident that fans will continue to push the boundaries, transforming the game into a versatile sandbox environment for various activities including theater and more.