GTA 2: The Movie

The opening cutscene of the game was pieced together using live-action footage taken from an eight-minute short film created for the purpose of advertising the game, retrospectively known as GTA 2: The Movie. This film has since been made available to the public and is downloadable from Rockstar’s website. Claude Speed is played by Scott Maslen in the film.

The short film shows Claude being murdered (shot by “The Cleaner” a Zaibatsu assassin played by Ian McQue) while trying to break into a sports car. It was shot in 1999 New York City with the World Trade Center in clear view, instead of the game’s anonymous city of the future (it should be noted, however, that two fictional locations were mentioned in the film: “Chernobyl Docks” and “Disgraceland”, the latter being the name of a district featured in Grand Theft Auto 2). The film depicts a blue-and-white NYPD 1991–1992 Chevrolet Caprice police car as a pursuit vehicle, as well as a black BMW 5 Series (E39) driven by Claude, which is later repainted white.