Gore Verbinski, director of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, is slated to direct and produce the BioShock movie. John Logan, Academy Award-nominated writer of Gladiator, The Aviator and Sweeney Todd, is in talks to do the screenplay. The expected release date and terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Though the movie has no official release date, rumor has it that it is currently in pre-production.
Press Release
2K Games announced today that it has reached an agreement for BioShock®, the universally acclaimed smash-hit video game, to be developed as a feature film by Universal Pictures. 2K Games, whose 2K Boston and 2K Australia studios developed BioShock, is a video game publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
The prospect of bringing this blockbuster game to life has attracted not only a major studio, but top Hollywood talent. Gore Verbinski, director of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, is slated to direct and produce the BioShock movie. John Logan, Academy Award-nominated writer of Gladiator, The Aviator and Sweeney Todd, is in talks to do the screenplay.
The expected release date and terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
An original property developed by 2K Games, BioShock is one of the most successful new interactive entertainment franchises to launch in recent years. A critical and consumer hit, BioShock has sold more than 2 million units worldwide since its release in August 2007. A sequel to the game, BioShock 2, is planned for a release in 2009.
“We are excited that 2K Games’ vision for BioShock will be carried forward in a new medium,” said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two. “BioShock has been hailed as one of the most highly cinematic and richly plotted titles in interactive entertainment, making it extremely well-suited to film. In partnering with Universal and Gore Verbinski, we have assembled a team that respects the uniqueness of BioShock and will translate it into a powerful movie experience.”
Mr. Zelnick added, “Our ability to attract a major studio and unparalleled creative team speaks volumes about the strength of our BioShock franchise. It also demonstrates how Take-Two is delivering value based on our strategy of creating and owning our industry’s most powerful intellectual property.”
Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K Games, noted, “BioShock fans appreciate the depth and complexity of the game, and our partnership with Gore Verbinski will introduce the world of Rapture to an even wider audience. In addition to his impressive body of work, Gore is an avid video gamer and true fan of BioShock. That was extremely important to us in deciding to move forward with this project.”
BioShock: Triumph of the Imagination
Considered to be one the finest games in the history of interactive entertainment, BioShock unfolds as a deep and exciting adventure. Barely surviving a plane crash, the player lands in icy uncharted waters and discovers an undersea city called Rapture, a failed utopia whose citizens had embraced genetic engineering before the city descended into pure anarchy. Power and greed have run amok and the city has succumbed to civil war. It is a gripping game that forces the player to make complex moral choices. Fans have embraced BioShock’s mysterious world filled with powerful technology and fascinating characters. BioShock is also renowned for its rich visual detail depicting a gorgeous Art Deco world set deep beneath the sea.
BioShock has earned some of the highest ratings and strongest accolades in video game history. It is one of the best-rated titles for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, with a MetaCritic rating of 96. Numerous organizations bestowed “Game of the Year” status on BioShock in 2007, including The Associated Press, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Game Informer, Spike TV’s Video Game Awards, G4’s X-Play, Amazon.com, The Houston Chronicle and Paste Magazine. Additionally, BioShock ranked among the top 10 titles on many other “Best of 2007″ award lists, including The New York Times, Time Magazine and Maxim. BioShock was internally developed by 2K Boston and 2K Australia and is owned by the 2K Games label of Take-Two Interactive Software.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Sweet. I have loved most of his movies ever since Mouse Hunt. Well, except for the Mexican. But I love his movies. Let’s hope it does as well as he did with Pirates.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Mouse Hunt is still one of my all time favorites. It was well shot, executed and entertaining. I really hope they make this good. Why can’t they just do what they have done with comic book movies?.. oh wait, that it because Uwe Boll gets his grubby hands on everything.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Heh, Gore’s remake of The Ring is one of the few Japanese remakes I can stand. So, yeah, he can add genuine tension where needed. I’m looking forward to this.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I’m encourage by the talented names already attached to this project.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Oh, VK, you like Mouse Hunt as well. It is still one of my favorite comedies. Ugh, but why bring up Uwe Boll’s name. *sigh* If game companies would just be a little patient with their properties, good directors would pick them up. But sometimes they are so fast to make money off of their properties that they just sell to the first person willing to buy.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:34 am
as long as it doesnt have Uwe Boll, it has a chance to be good.
May 10th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
OH MAiiiiiii gawd.
I am super excited. The game was phenomenal. And I liked Pirates a lot! I mean, the first one was the best of course, the second and third weren’t much like the original but still had some great effects and the way it was filed was excellent!!!! I’m excited for the Big Daddys!! And the Splicers!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 13th, 2008 at 3:21 am
OMG you should have seen Aktrez’s reaction to this news. She’s so excited. She wants a part in the movie, any part. Even a splacer or little sister she said hehe. She has my vote!
I’m excited too. I really hope they capture the look of the game and especially the music. It’s what gives Bioshock that creepy feeling.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
*faints*
..I really should read all the news before I start making comments in other sections.
Yay Big Daddies!!