It has been two months since the first trailer for GTA VI was released, and consistent with previous Rockstar Games trailers, it caused significant excitement on their YouTube channel. The video has received over 175 million views so far, excluding duplicates from other channels. This led to numerous analysis videos breaking down every frame and detail in an effort to uncover as much information as possible. Prior to this trailer’s release, there were many rumors and leaks, and today I would like to focus on a particularly intriguing piece of information regarding the potential direction GTA VI’s story might take, along with its gameplay and open world. Therefore, I pose this question: “What if Rockstar Games drew inspiration from the film ‘The Place Beyond the Pines,’ starring Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, and Bradley Cooper?” At PlayersForLife, we believe there is evidence suggesting that Rockstar Games admired the film as much as we did.

2015 RUMORS WERE SPOT ON!

This rumor suggesting that Grand Theft Auto VI was inspired by “The Place Beyond the Pines,” a film directed by Derek Cianfrance, is not new. It emerged in November of last year, just weeks before the trailer’s release, but did not gain much traction online at the time. There were only a few articles and some tweets about it. In fact, this rumor originated on Reddit, where certain forum responses indicate that it echoes earlier speculations from 2015. These earlier rumors suggested that GTA VI would allow players to follow two characters, played by Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, who are also married in real life and portray the main characters in “The Place Beyond the Pines.”

It is noteworthy that Rockstar Games’ titles often incorporate cinematic references from American cinema, featuring characters inspired by major films or even entire game sequences paying homage to other movies. For example, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is loosely based on Scarface, where the main character Tommy Vercetti was voiced by Ray Liotta. Following his death two years ago, Rockstar Games paid tribute to him on social media, acknowledging his recognition at the Spike Video Game Awards for his performance alongside co-stars such as Burt Reynolds, Dennis Hopper, and Danny Trejo.

Another piece of evidence that Rockstar Games loves to reference cult Hollywood films is the famous “Three Leaf Clover” mission in Grand Theft Auto 5, which directly mirrors the opening bank heist scene from Michael Mann’s film Heat, including the crooks carrying money bags across their shoulders. It is clear that Grand Theft Auto VI will continue this tradition of paying homage to American cinema by drawing inspiration and incorporating references throughout the game. While, in November last year, similarities with the film The Place Beyond the Pines could only be speculated based on rumors, the release of the trailer has made it evident that Derek Cianfrance’s work served as creative inspiration for at least some characters in GTA 6. Comparing the film couple to the duo in GTA VI reveals striking physical and ethnic similarities between the characters. Ryan Gosling’s character, Luke Glanton, a quiet white Caucasian man, resembles Jason from GTA VI in the trailer, where Jason is also kept in the background while Lucia takes center stage.

Regarding Lucia, I would like to point out that she bears a notable physical resemblance to Eva Mendes. This similarity extends beyond ethnicity, as both are of Latino descent. In GTA VI, her character is named Lucia, whereas in the film “The Place Beyond the Pines,” Eva Mendes portrays Romina. There are additional parallels between Lucia and Romina that merit further exploration. Near the end of the GTA IV trailer, our protagonists can be seen robbing a grocery store with scarves covering their noses to avoid recognition. A closer look reveals Jason’s scarf is green, much like the one worn by Ryan Gosling’s character in “The Place Beyond the Pines.” Additionally, it is worth noting that bank heists are among the favorite activities of GTA anti-heroes, and this trend continues in GTA VI, similar to Luke Glanton’s primary activity in “The Place Beyond the Pines”—robbing banks on a motorcycle. The trailer for GTA VI also hints at the inclusion of motocross as one of its elements.

However, this is not the end of the speculation, and you will see. Other rumors indicate that Grand Theft Auto VI would feature a child as part of its game and story elements for the first time in Rockstar Games’ history. This would involve a very young child rather than teenagers like those seen in Michael’s storyline from GTA V. The baby would be Lucia’s infant and could play an important, if not central, role in GTA VI’s narrative. If confirmed, this development would represent a surprising and unprecedented shift for the Grand Theft Auto series, which has traditionally avoided exploring themes of parenthood directly due to its content and occasional gratuitous violence. It is noteworthy that until now, GTAs have kept children out of their narratives for these reasons. Nevertheless, Rockstar’s storytelling has matured significantly in recent years, as evidenced by the sophisticated narrative in Red Dead 2, suggesting a new direction for the franchise.

Consider for a moment Lucia, the first playable female character in a Grand Theft Auto game who is also a young mother. This could introduce an unprecedented and complex dimension to the game’s narrative, enabling Rockstar to go beyond simply including a woman in their game. It would be a novel and unexpected approach. Reflecting on how deeply a child in danger can evoke emotion, I recall the scene from Red Dead Redemption 2 where you must save Jack, John Marston’s son; it still gives me chills. The alley lit by the mansion’s lights and the moon, the music that plays, the shootout inside the mansion—also reminiscent of the mansion scene in Django Unchained. I believe we are in for a deeply emotional experience with Grand Theft Auto 6. If all this is confirmed, Lucia’s baby presents a significant narrative challenge for Rockstar, who could push the boundaries even further in storytelling.

A recurring theme in Rockstar Games’ titles, particularly the two Red Dead Redemption games, is the concept of legacy or inheritance. In Red Dead Redemption 1, Jack Marston inherits his father John’s legacy after his death. The epilogue features Jack as a young adult. In Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur Morgan passes on his legacy to John Marston just before the latter’s demise. This could also be present in GTA VI, especially if Rockstar Games drew inspiration from “The Place Beyond the Pines,” a film dealing with inheritance across two generations. The film is structured as a triptych, following Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling) for an hour before transitioning to Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper), and finally to their children who become central characters. This narrative structure could be groundbreaking in a video game.

Rockstar Games might indeed adopt this system for GTA VI’s open world, presenting a significant challenge for the studio. The evolution of the world through narrative, conveying a message of transmission and handover, could work well with this game. Why couldn’t GTA VI allow players to control Lucia’s son as an adult during a substantial part of the adventure, in a city and world that has evolved with him? This theme, though recurring, has never been fully explored.