The renowned director Martin Scorsese strongly opposed the development of a video game based on his iconic film Taxi Driver, which was presented at E3 in 2005. This project, considered an unauthorized sequel to the film, promised to offer a gameplay experience similar to the Grand Theft Auto series, allowing players to take on the role of Travis Bickle, the disturbed protagonist played by Robert De Niro. The idea was for players to freely navigate a recreated 1970s New York, working as taxi drivers while exploring the dark psyche of the character.
Scorsese refused to allow the game to be produced
Despite having the initial approval from Sony Pictures and the vocal participation of De Niro, Scorsese managed to exert considerable influence to prevent the game’s progress, even though he officially had no rights over the project. According to statements from executive producer Dan Kitchen, the director used his prestige to pressure Sony, reminding them of the complications that could arise if they continued. This resulted in the abrupt cancellation of development, just weeks before its completion.
The development company Papaya Studios responded by filing a lawsuit against Majesco Entertainment for breach of contract, after having invested several million dollars in the production of the video game. Although other movie-based titles, such as The Godfather: The Game, found success in the market, Taxi Driver became a lost project in gaming history, leaving fans curious about what this adaptation could have been like.
Today, while some remember that era of GTA clones in gaming, the question remains of what a sequel to a classic could have been. Additionally, the possibility of a cinematic sequel to Taxi Driver has been discussed at times, although there have been no concrete advances so far.
