 |
| Big daddy and little sister In combat with the player in Bioshock |
For fans of intelligent, atmospheric video games, the underwater dystopia of Rapture has always felt cinematic. So, when Netflix announced a partnership with Take-Two and 2K in 2022 to finally adapt BioShock for the screen, it was met with equal parts excitement and cautious optimism. It joins a booming new wave of video game adaptations, from surprise indie hits to big studio releases.
But this isn’t the first time Hollywood has tried to bring Andrew Ryan’s doomed art-deco metropolis to life. A previous attempt, helmed by a passionate director with a fiercely dark vision, famously crashed into the rocks of studio hesitancy over a decade ago. And now, that director is opening up about what we lost.
A Director’s Deep Dive into Rapture’s Dark Heart
Back in 2008, following the massive success of the original game, Universal Pictures set Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski to helm a BioShock film. The project spent years in development before ultimately being shelved. In a recent Reddit AMA for his new film, Verbinski reflected on the project he “loved,” sharing tantalizing details of his uncompromising approach.
His vision was intensely psychological and mature. “I was going to dive deeply into the Oedipal aspect and definitely keep it hard R with the Little Sisters, and the 'choices' the protagonist makes… and the consequences," Verbinski stated. He elaborated on the “Oedipal aspect,” explaining it focused on the protagonist Jack’s illusion of free will—a core, haunting theme from the game that few big-budget films dare to explore.
Why the $200 Million R-Rated Dream Drowned
So, what happened? According to Verbinski, it ultimately came down to budget and rating. In a revealing interview with Collider, the director pinpointed the moment the studio got cold feet.
“We were now about to start shooting a $200 million R-rated movie and they chickened out,” Verbinski said. He believes the underwhelming box office performance of Zack Snyder’s Watchmen served as a stark warning to Universal. The perceived wisdom became: “If they cost that much, they need to be PG-13." The studio’s appetite for a costly, adult-oriented thriller set in a philosophically complex world had evaporated.
The Cinematic “What If” That Still Haunts Fans
What makes the loss particularly bitter for fans is the creative ambition Verbinski and writer John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall) had poured into the script. The director teased a narrative structure that could have been groundbreaking for game adaptations.
"I had worked out a way... to have both endings,” Verbinski revealed, referring to the game’s moral-choice-driven conclusions. “I was looking forward to bringing that to the big screen and really fucking with people’s heads.” Coupled with what he describes as “great designs for the Big Daddies and the entire underwater demented art-deco aesthetic,” it’s clear this was a passion project aiming to be both a faithful and audacious translation.
Will Netflix Finally Take the Plunge?
The current BioShock film at Netflix remains shrouded in mystery, with no director or writer officially attached. Verbinski himself seems skeptical that any studio will fully embrace the dark tone he championed. “Every year I hear something about the project, but I'm not sure any studio is quite willing to go where I was headed,” he mused in the AMA.
The challenge remains: can a BioShock film that sanitizes its horror and moral complexity truly capture the essence of what made the game a masterpiece? Verbinski’s failed attempt stands as a high-water mark of artistic ambition for the property—a proof-of-concept that a profound, R-rated adaptation is possible, even if it was, at the time, too risky a venture.
For those looking to revisit the original source material, you can find The BioShock Collection on Amazon here.
Sources:
Collider: Gore Verbinski on the BioShock Movie Ending | Reddit AMA Thread on r/Bioshock