Director Gore Verbinski has unveiled intriguing details about his long-shelved adaptation of the acclaimed video game series, BioShock. In a recent discussion on Reddit, Verbinski expressed his passion for the project, revealing that it was close to entering production at Universal Pictures before ultimately falling apart.
Verbinski’s vision included a deep exploration of the game’s themes, particularly its “Oedipal aspect,” and aimed for a strong R rating. He intended to reflect the complex choices players face in the game and their consequences, stating, “I was looking forward to bringing that to the big screen and really messing with people’s heads.” Notably, Verbinski and screenwriter John Logan, known for his work on Skyfall and The Aviator, conceived a plan to incorporate both of the game’s endings into the film.
The director also shared that he developed innovative designs for the game’s iconic antagonists and envisioned the film’s “entire underwater demented art-deco aesthetic.” Despite his enthusiasm, Verbinski acknowledged that the current iteration of a BioShock movie is in the works at Netflix, but he is uncertain whether studios are willing to pursue the direction he envisioned.
In 2017, Kenneth Levine, the creator of the BioShock series, suggested that Verbinski’s adaptation did not materialize due to the poor performance of Zack Snyder‘s Watchmen in 2009. Levine speculated that the film’s failure led Universal to reconsider the viability of an R-rated film with a substantial budget of approximately $200 million. He noted that Verbinski was unwilling to compromise on both the budget and the film’s rating, which ultimately contributed to the project’s demise.
Following Verbinski’s departure, Universal brought in a different director, but Levine felt that the new choice was not a suitable fit and decided to discontinue the project. Currently, Netflix and Take-Two Interactive are collaborating on a BioShock movie that will be based on the original game. The film is directed by Francis Lawrence, known for his work on The Hunger Games, with a screenplay being developed by Michael Green, of Blade Runner 2049 fame, and Justin Rhodes, who worked on Terminator: Dark Fate.
As of 2024, producer Roy Lee indicated that the BioShock movie at Netflix has been restructured to become a more “personal” film. This shift follows a change in leadership at Netflix, which has reportedly prioritized quality over quantity and sought more manageable budgets.
In parallel developments, a remake of the original BioShock game was recently canceled. The next installment in the series is still under development but has faced delays and layoffs at its developer. Meanwhile, Levine is working on a new game titled Judas, although no release date has been announced.
Verbinski, best known for directing Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and its sequels, left the franchise after the third installment. He has since directed films such as Rango and The Lone Ranger. His latest project, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, is set to be released in theaters on February 13, 2024. The film stars Sam Rockwell as a man from the future who travels back in time to recruit individuals to combat a deadly artificial intelligence.
