'BioShock' to get the film treatment

(Credit: Take-Two Interactive)

No one can argue with the fact that last year's BioShock was a milestone in interactive storytelling as far as a video game is concerned. 2K Games was able to create such a unique setting and mood all while engaging us in a thrilling narrative like nothing we've seen before. Naturally, an experience such as this seemed ultimately destined for the big screen, and now Variety is reporting that Universal Studios will be the company bringing the underwater city of Rapture to a theater near you.

But perhaps the biggest news to come out of all this is whom Universal has lined up to direct the dystopian drama. Gore Verbinski, famed director of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, has signed on while accomplished screenwriter John Logan (Sweeny Todd, The Aviator) is in talks to write the script.

It would appear that all the pieces are in place for BioShock to break the curse of disappointing movies adapted from video games. Even more encouraging, Verbinski says that BioShock has the strongest narrative of any game he's played, which is why he wants to bring it to the silver screen. Just promise us there won't be any CG Big Daddies and you're already headed in the right direction.

2K Games has recently confirmed that BioShock will also be getting a video game sequel with lead designer Ken Levine involved once again.

Will bringing in top dogs like Verbinski and (hopefully) Logan finally make BioShock a video game flick worth watching? Would you kindly leave a comment and let us know what you think?

Source: Variety via Kotaku.

[rbz275]

"would you kindly"

hahah....

[ghbuchholz]

Like the idea of a sequel, but movies based on video games don't have a good track record.

[brocknation]

Will this mirror the happenstance success of Resident Evil? And as was said, stear clear from CGI monsters.

[jbakalar]

If I see just one CG Big Daddy, there'll be hell to pay

[Cooyea]

I would have to strongly agree with you on the Big Daddy issue. there should be no reason to make Big Daddy a CGI thing, if they did it would totally lose it's aesthetic feeling and just kill the film and the idea of being in this fictional story.

[xtremeranger]

I am playing Bioshock right now, and I have been thinking that this would make a great movie. I am so excited. I just hope they keep to the story and don't just use the characters to make a random story like other video game movies.

[Braznahan]

So the director is playing the game? Well then maybe there is hope for game-to-film productions. I know movies have time constraints but there is no reason to change an already good story. If you can properly portray the characters and cinematography all involved in the production will be acclaimed, so do it right please.

[jskrenes]

One of the key features of Bioshock that made the game great was the choices and their effects on the story. Harvest or save the girls, and the game has a different outcome. That drew me into the game in a way few games do, and I don't know if it will translate into a movie.

[dbtwin28]

I really don't like the idea of Verbinski directing this movie. When I first played Bioshock, the first name that came to mind was David Fincher. Fincher does dark well, and I'm not just talking storyline, but the overall look of his films are dark. (Se7en, The Game, and Fight Club) I think Fincher would be better suited to bring BioShock to life. Verbinski took a great pirate movie like Curse of the Black Pearl, and ruined them with the two movies that followed. Verbinski pulled a "Matrix" so to speak.