BioShock film preproduction halted

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpotPosted Apr 27, 2009 1:10 pm PT

Worries over a $160 million budget has caused Universal to order work halted on big-screen version of 2K's undersea classic, reports Variety.

Over the weekend, Variety delivered some unwelcome news to those looking forward to the BioShock film. According to the Hollywood trade, Universal Pictures has ordered work stopped on the project, announced last May. Apparently the sticking point was the film's ballooning $160 million budget, which is now being revisited by Universal and director Gore Verbinski (The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, The Mexican).

Firing some of the splicer members of the film crew proved challenging.

"We were asked by Universal to move the film outside the US to take advantage of a tax credit," Verbinski told Variety. "We are evaluating whether this is something we want to do. In the meantime, the film is in a holding pattern." London is apparently a leading candidate for the production's new location.

Written by John Logan (Gladiator, Star Trek: Nemesis), the big-screen BioShock was initially planned for release alongside a third BioShock game. However, with BioShock 2 not due out until later this year, the movie's release was brought forward to summer 2010--a move that forced Verbinski to pass on directing a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean.

The fact that Verbinski turned down such a lucrative gig to direct BioShock is a good indicator of his commitment to the project. Both the director and Universal reps told Variety that the work stoppage--and a few subsequent crew-member layoffs--do not mean the film is canceled, but merely delayed. Specifically, they promised it would not suffer the same fate as the Halo film, which is now on indefinite hold following similar budget concerns.

To learn more about Verbinski's thoughts on games and film, check out his keynote address from the 2008 D.I.C.E. Summit.

156 Comments

  • EricShadow366

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 2:56 pm PT

    A movie Bioshock, huh? Well, they better do it right.

  • Ethan111111

    Posted May 11, 2009 12:15 pm PT

    this movie will make billions even if its not the best. this is stupid!! make the movie!!!!

  • champmanfan

    Posted May 5, 2009 5:55 pm PT

    It would be better suited to the US than London as this is destined to be a blockbuster, not a cut to shreds movie just to save a few quid. Paying $160M sounds about right to do this game justice for Hollywood animatronics to combine smoothly with CGI in the hands of the right director. How else to make the audience jump at Big Daddy or Spliccers jumping towards the audience with real purpose. Script-wise, the movie should have turned out better than the game if it weren't for John Logan being involved.

    Btw, Verbinski is just going to produce Bioshock, not direct it, so here's hoping his creativity can evolve this great game to the movie masses.

  • xboxlivegamer17

    Posted May 5, 2009 8:49 am PT

    I am so freaking excited about this movie!!!! I'm going to be first in line at my local theater to see it!!! YAY!!!

  • LovingTheHated

    Posted May 3, 2009 5:53 pm PT

    I'm so excited for this. I always said "They should make a movie out of Bioshock". It's such a great premise: a city under the sea with no restrictions. I'm excited to see how they work with this. It has great potential, and a bad ass director.

  • Trooperdx3117

    Posted May 1, 2009 8:56 am PT

    I really hope this film doesn't come out, Bioshock is a good twenty hour game and I don't know how they would compress that down to two hours without ruining it.

  • dual_barrel

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 4:26 pm PT

    Too bad, I never understood Bioshock.

  • poorisaac

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 4:09 pm PT

    I think if you take what Verbinski did with Pirates, put it under the ocean, threw in blood, guns, and plasmids, we might actually get the first really good video game blockbuster everyone has wanted since forever.

  • himalaya

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 3:41 pm PT

    Never say never (cause you then you've said never twice).

  • bioghost

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 12:09 pm PT

    Verbinski really likes water

  • Pelm

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 11:21 am PT

    bioshock is my fav fps but why does the movie industry insist on continously making video game movie tie ins? everyone knows that it doesn't work, and everyone KNOWS it will never work. So stop trying to do something that you know you failed at a thousand times over, it never works.

  • EarthwormJohnUK

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 11:01 am PT

    they should can this film, it's a bad, bad idea... Alone In The Dark, Super Mario Brothers, Resident Evil(s), Silent Hill, Street Fighter, Doom, Max Payne... please Mr Movie Executives, try reading a book or something and leave video games alone...

  • NavIGOtoR25

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 7:37 am PT

    BioShock film will be usefull and interesting for gamers.

  • InsultToInjury_

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 3:55 am PT

    Im not a fan of games being turned into movies for the reason none of them have been very good. But this one looks promising with the people on board. Need to wait and see how it unfolds.

  • vipa95666

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 3:09 am PT

    Seriosuly i would love bioshock to be released but i really dont think it will be a hit, simply because it just wont be the same translation to the original game and WHO WILL CAST THE LITTLE SISTERS!?!?!

  • polkastriiipe

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 1:28 am PT

    should be in cgi ...

  • guitardude1243

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 6:56 pm PT

    I would disagree, this movie would probably translate very well to a movie if directed correctly. Sad to see its halted, really hope they don't pull a 'Halo' on us.

  • dmdavenport

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 4:52 pm PT

    I heard they cancelled it because they couldn't cast anyone for the little sisters.

  • TheAustrian

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 3:08 pm PT

    I was honestly scared for the Bioshock movie. Bioshock itself could not possibly be translated (in the way it was experienced in regards to gameplay) to film. It just wouldn't work, and I didn't like the idea. After seeing who's penning the script and directing though (and seeing Verbinski's dedication to the project), I'm starting to get excited. It will never be as good as Bioshock, but it may very well be an amazing movie. Now, I can't wait!

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