The streaming giant Netflix has officially announced a Bioshock film is in the works, as reported by THR. Take-Two Interactive and Vertigo Entertainment will serve as producers, and while no writer or filmmaker has been confirmed, Netflix stated that the deal has been in the works for over a year and there is potential for a cinematic universe based on the video game franchise.
Originally released in 2007 for Windows and Xbox 360 (and Playstation 3 shortly after) by 2K Games a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, Bioshock is a first-person shooter that takes place in an underwater city called Rapture, where the businessman Andrew Ryan intended to create a utopia. Upon the discovery of ADAM, a genetic enhancer that gives superhuman abilities, the city quickly turns chaotic as the citizens become addicted and murderous. The iconic Big Daddies, altered humans in diving suits, are another obstacle. They protect the Little Sisters, young girls who have been genetically altered and brainwashed to extract ADAM for future use. It was followed by a direct sequel, Bioshock 2, and a third game, Bioshock Infinite, set in an alternate world. Bioshock: The Collection was later released and included all three games and their respective DLCs.
One year after the original game’s release, Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski was attached to direct, however, it was reported he intended to make the film R rated, which Universal was against. Hopefully this time around with the renewed popularity of the R rating that will no longer be an issue.
As the games are a favorite of mine (particularly the sequel), I’m quite excited! It would be interesting to see Big Daddies using a combination of CGI and practical effects, and the Splicers could definitely be created with makeup. Although with the track record of video game to film adaptations, I’m keeping my expectations tempered.