Today brings good news for those who happen to be horror fans and gamers. Netflix has revealed that it has officially entered development on a BioShock movie based on the beloved video game franchise of the same name, partnering with 2K and Take-Two Interactive for the project. This gives the adaptation new life after languishing in development hell for years.
Would you kindly…get excited because Netflix is partnering with 2K and Take-Two Interactive to produce a film adaptation of the renowned video game franchise BIOSHOCK! pic.twitter.com/lUqfaNlbc4
— NetflixFilm (@NetflixFilm) February 15, 2022
For the time being, details are few and far between. There is no word on who is eyed to write, direct, or star in the film, nor is there any indication of when production might begin. Though it is interesting to note that The Hollywood Reporter states that the companies have partnered “to develop a potential cinematic universe.” So, if this goes well, it may not be limited to merely one movie. Considering the franchise already includes BioShock 2 and BioShock: Infinite, there is indeed a whole lot to explore. Let’s just hope they’re not trying to put the cart before the horse here. For those who may need a little context, here is a synopsis for the first game:
“Explore the undersea city of Rapture, a haven for society’s greatest minds that has devolved into a dystopian nightmare wrought by one man’s hubris. Amidst the waterlogged ruins, a new ecosystem has emerged, where deranged Splicers hunt down the Little Sisters who would be helpless without their hulking Big Daddy guardians. Your only hopes for survival are quick thinking, reclaimed weaponry, and superhuman powers granted by DNA-altering Plasmids. To defeat Rapture’s mutated monsters, you must become one.”
The games have sold more than 39 million copies worldwide since the franchise kicked off in 2007, met with widespread acclaim, it didn’t take long for Hollywood to come knocking. Universal originally had a movie set up with Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) on board to direct. That never came to pass, and various iterations came and went over the years, yet nothing came of it.
It should certainly be noted that Netflix, in its brief press release, mentioned that “the series blends sci-fi and horror to pose unique existential and societal questions that reshaped how game stories could be told.” So they are outright acknowledging the horror elements inherent to the game, signaling that they won’t shy away from that. With optimism in place, get ready for some expensive, aquatic, big-budget horror shenanigans.
Video games were a tough nut for Hollywood to crack for many years, with so many of them failing to deliver the goods critically and (in most cases) commercially. In recent years though, that trend has started to change. Meanwhile, streaming services and studios are in desperate need of franchises, making a rich video game world extremely appealing. BioShock could be difficult for a studio relying on box office to make it work, but Netflix has deep pockets and a lot of eyeballs to try and keep happy.
The BioShock movie does not yet have a release date set.
