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05-09-2008 09:21 AM |
BioShock - The Movie
May 8, 2008
IGN first speculated about the possibility of a BioShock movie, based on 2K's best-selling videogame, back in August. Then rumors began to circulate that Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy helmer Guillermo del Toro was involved. He flatly denied the reports, and the buzz quickly died. Now, however, the project is officially underway with another director, Pirates of the Caribbean's Gore Verbinski, in charge.
According to Variety, Verbinski has been hired by Universal Pictures to direct and produce the film. The script will probably be written by John Logan (Sweeney Todd, The Aviator) if a deal with the scribe can be worked out.
It's not yet clear how closely the movie will mirror the game, but it's a pretty cinema-ready property, so we don't expect much of a departure. The setup goes like this: An eccentric genius named Andrew Ryan creates an underwater utopia called Rapture, gathering the best and brightest scientists, artists and industrialists of his day and relocating there with them. Decades pass and by the time Jack, an aircraft crash survivor, sets foot in Rapture, Ryan's idealistic vision has devolved into a horrifying remnant of a failed society. The decaying art deco city is now littered with corpses, genetically mutated humans, and bio-mechanical monstrosities.
The game was largely inspired by Ayn Rand's classic Atlas Shrugged.
"I think the whole utopia-gone-wrong story that's cleverly unveiled to players is just brimming with cinematic potential," Verbinski told Variety. "Of all the games I've played, this is one that I felt has a really strong narrative."
Verbinski said that Rapture's art deco look and the visally impressive characters were what made him want to see the game translated into a film.
There's no release date at this time, but Verbinski told Variety that he plans to start developing the film in earnest as soon as the script by Logan is completed and approved. It should happen sooner than later.
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