ROTTEN TOMATOES: BioShock Movie in the Works?

BioShock Movie in the Works?

2K executives suddenly inundated with frantic calls from Uwe Boll's agent.

by Jeff Giles | January 11, 2008

Ah, videogame adaptations. Critics hate them, audiences mostly ignore them...and yet the studios can't seem to get enough of them, which is why -- if the latest rumors are correct -- BioShock could be coming to a theater near you.

The scoop comes from Joystiq, where "a reliable source within a major film production company" has shared the news that BioShock developer 2K is in discussions with said company to bring the bestselling game to the big screen.

If you aren't the gaming sort, here's a BioShock synopsis from the gang at CinemaBlend:

Bioshock is a first person shooter set in an alternative version of the year 1960. The game follows a plane crash survivor named Jack who explores a spectacular, crumbling underwater dystopian city called Rapture. The city is infested with mutant beings and mechanical drones which, as you'd expect with fleshy-headed killers, attack.

If you're reading this and thinking to yourself, "Sounds like the kind of thing someone might want to use a lot of green screen to make," well, the studio's apparently right there with you; according to Joystiq, "the studio hopes to bring the fallen aquatic utopia of Rapture to celluloid life through extensive use of green screen technology, an approach not dissimilar to Legendary Pictures' interpretation of 300."

Obviously, this is just a rumor right now -- but BioShock has sold oodles of copies, and where a studio senses a built-in audience, a film (or dozens of films) aimed at that audience tends to follow. And anyway, we're getting another Street Fighter movie, so really, this isn't much of a stretch. Excited yet, gamers?

Source: Joystiq
Source: CinemaBlend
Source: Cinematical

Related Items

Game:

(1-20 of 77 posts) | Reply

OperaGhost21 writes:
on Jan 11 2008 05:22 AM

When Halo is back on the table, then I'll be interested.

(Reply to this)

Astr0creep writes:
on Jan 11 2008 05:26 AM

I don't get it. Bioshock?

What about System Shock? Baldur's Gate? Duke Nukem? Elder Scrolls? Zelda? Metroid? Contra? Castlevania? Legacy of Kain? Mario? ... huh... nevermind that last one...

There are MANY games with fantastic stories that could make really great movies so what's the old up?

Legal issues?

(Reply to this)

zbbrox writes:
on Jan 11 2008 05:30 AM

If the studios F up Bioshock--which is a far more compelling work of art than the vast majority of studio films--like they do every other video game movie--which generally have far inferior source material to Bioshock--I will hunt them down and force them to watch every Uwe Boll video game adaptation back to back.

(Reply to this)

BowieSwimmer writes:
on Jan 11 2008 05:31 AM

Umm WHO CARES?!
Films based on video games are often done with new directors fresh from cutting together an MTV-worthy music video, with possibly one B-rate star and a bunch of random actors thrown together with some semi-impressive visuals.
But they usually just straight up suck. And aren't done well enough.

I love BioShock [its the best game of the year. yes, better than Halo 3], but unless I see some weighty names attached, I'm not going to get excited.
Get Zack Snyder's name in this [he's not a great director, but he's excellent at using a green screen] and maybe I'll tune in for more news.

(Reply to this)

JpPrewitt789 writes:
on Jan 11 2008 05:37 AM

Please don't do this.

I heard they were going to make a prequel game to Bioshock. I would MUCH rather have that...

(Reply to this)

jacog writes:
on Jan 11 2008 05:50 AM

Ok, I like Bioshock... great atmosphere, etc... but WHY WHY WHY are the studios making all these damn movies based on first-person-shooters???

Why not adventure games like Grim Fandango and The Last Express... Sam & Max?? RPGs also lend themselves better to creating offshoots like films and books because the universes are usually more rich. (And yes, I know there's a Dungeon Siege movie starting this week... barf)

(Reply to this)

jasperoosterveld writes:
on Jan 11 2008 06:00 AM

Zelda can make a great movie trilogy, it has massive potential but needs a great scriptwriter and director and a good budget.

(Reply to this)

Oblivioncry writes:
on Jan 11 2008 06:00 AM

why dont they do this MGS style, konami wants to make a movie, but is taking time and effort to make a good movie, rather then rushing into making a crap.
(uwe boll asked for permission, and konami laughed him in the face or so^^)

and why Bioshock, as Astrocreep said said: there are tons of other games with better story and better look that should deserve a great film (ICO and Shadow of Collosus)

and Halo3 was more of a Bestseller game and has already a HUGE fanbase.

atleast Max Payne and Prince of Persia seems to become good films. (well Wahlberg is casted in MP, and Bruckheimer is producing PoP)

(Reply to this)

Elixor writes:
on Jan 11 2008 06:00 AM

BioShock works great as a video game. Won't work as a movie. Same with Halo. There's very few video game stories that would work well in movie format and great video game storylines do not make great movie storylines. I agree that Zbbrox, that Bioshock was compelling work of art, but only as a video game, it simply won't translate to a movie. Resident Evil was actually one that could've worked, but look at how poorly the movie studios handled that one. A newer game that could have movie potential IMO would be Mass Effect. It would be a hard target, but it at least has potential to translate.

(Reply to this)

Gimy writes:
on Jan 11 2008 06:13 AM

they could redo a mario movie, just say f3ck it and make it Mario Kart-Death Race. they race across the country killing random civilians and earning points. chaching! i smell box office gold baby...

i'm all for a Tecmo Bowl movie as well, with all the players hyped up on roids...cuz they throw em like 10 yards after they break a tackle in what i always thought is the best football game ever

listen, they can make any video game into a movie if wanted, the problem is no REAL director touches these. only that sh3thead who keeps tossing out garbage. i won't even say his name. the most logical and easily the most profitable would be to make a Halo movie but that even won't be made. if they can't make a movie out of a ridiculously profitable game like that, do you really think there's ever going to be an actually DECENT video game movie? i don't...

(Reply to this)

FLYmeatwad writes:
on Jan 11 2008 06:15 AM

Mass Effect would have no chance of working as a film because of the free nature of the game, while the major storyline is not changed, the element of the game that people enjoyed would be taken out. Bioshock may suffer from similar maladies, but realistically the property is one of the most ready to head to the big screen. If handled correctly one of the most interesting stories in the second best console FPS of all time could make an incredible movie. The only problem besides what moral route the character takes (though it would either be harvest and realize a mistake or simply realize the mistake earlier to build up for the climax later) is that the main character hardly ever talked in the game. That's where the project could go to Hell. If the right person helmed the project, imagine just how chilling seeing that Andrew Ryan scene could be and how the twist would hit unknowning audiences. Plus with a sequel to the game a given, a film would keep the fans sedated long enough to forget that we'll probably have to wait two or three years minimum before the second is ready.

But on the real, GIVE ME MY METAL GEAR FILM!

(Reply to this)

OperaGhost21 writes:
on Jan 11 2008 06:20 AM

I know they already have a Castlevania movie in the works, which sucks because I love the games but I fear the movie will not live up to any expectations. And I agree about Zelda being a good storyline to translate to film, if of course they treat it more like LOTR and less like Black Knight.

(Reply to this)

unaccounted4 writes:
on Jan 11 2008 06:24 AM

no no no. this is an awful idea. bioshock is a masterpiece. its a brilliant piece of story telling. but it was made into a video game for very specific reasons, and that just won't translate to film at all. this is doomed to fail. bioshock is the pinnacle of story telling in its medium, but even more than any other story told through a video game, this one must be a video game. thats why it works. when will film makers realize that every medium of story telling is different, that story tellers choose a medium that suits their story, and that not every story (however brilliant) would translate well to film?

damnit. this almost ruins my day.

(Reply to this)

The Tony Show writes:
on Jan 11 2008 07:13 AM

There are so many games with fantastic storylines (such as Bioshock), but why does every film based on them scream "I'm based on a videogame!"? If they could make a proper movie without pandering to the game fans with cute little inside jokes, Bioshock could be amazing. The leaking city, the creepy jazz music echoing down a hallway....it would have to be done in a minimalist style- very quiet and tense. I can imagine this film, but I doubt they can do it.

Notice to Hollywood: Would you kindly not screw this up?

(Reply to this)

Astr0creep writes:
on Jan 11 2008 07:14 AM

If one wants a MGS movie, one only needs to see the first Rambo film and possibly the fourth.

Stealth kills, insane weaponry and a red head band. I am 90% certain that Snake was based on John J. Rambo.

(Reply to this)

The Tony Show writes:
on Jan 11 2008 07:23 AM

Snake Plissken, actually. Kojima has stated that in interviews.

(Reply to this)

Sheephouse writes:
on Jan 11 2008 07:24 AM

First of all...Uwe Bowl should never be allowed near a camera ever again. Secondly, the hardest part of a Bioshock movie is done because the script is kind of already done. It is something that would make a better book...but get a good cast and director and I'll at least keep an open mind.

But yeah...game adaptations are never really good. The best one I can think of is probably the first Resident Evil movie and that's not saying much.

Who would you cast as the main character though...he doesn't talk nor do you ever really see him, save for a glimpse that I'm not remembering. And also having the splicers run wild could make it all the more cheesy.

(Reply to this)

Sheephouse writes:
on Jan 11 2008 07:28 AM

And MGS could make a great movie for those that haven't played the games because 60% of the games are cinematic sequences. Great characters, great plot, etc. But you need David Hayter's voice for Snake or it would ruin it, so I hope he looks the part.

(Reply to this)

frogleg writes:
on Jan 11 2008 07:50 AM

I actually think Bioshock could totally work. It's very cinematic, has great music and art style already. It would just take some work and healthy respect for the source material and a good movie could be made. The main character doesn't talk a lot, and that would have to change to a certain degree for a movie (interactions with other actors, etc.). Sometimes things have to change and people need to be a little less rigid with their expectations.
I think the whole video game adaptation problem is a twofold problem.
1. The studios don't give a lot of these projects their due respect and turn out trash.
2. The audiences that could most enjoy the films, the game fans, have a very specific idea of how their game needs to be done. And it isn't the same from fan to fan.

I think studios taking these more seriously, combined with a little bit of forgiveness and flexibility from fans would make the chances of success better.

And before anyone responds with "so what, we're supposed to lower our expectations?" - no. I didn't say lower them, just be more flexible. Understand when things have to change for the medium.

(Reply to this)

krammai writes:
on Jan 11 2008 07:51 AM

Anyone here that's stating Bioshock doesn't have that great of story, clearly hasn't played it.

(Reply to this)

Related Links

Related Articles

Most Discussed

Latest News

Latest Interviews

Latest Features

Sponsored Links