It’s been a hot minute since we talked about “Bioshock.” The 2007 first person shooter/adventure title has cemented itself in video game history thanks to its rich atmosphere, storytelling, and lore. It was the kind of game, that if properly worked with, could have made a good movie. It’s been in development several times, but with no actual release.
In 2022, Netflix revealed their plans for a live-action project. While we haven’t had any news since then, Francis Lawrence (“The Hunger Games“) confirms things are still happening.
Lawrence cut his teeth as a director with 2005’s “Constantine.” And of course, the “Hunger Games” franchise. But what about “Bioshock?” Is it lost to the ocean depths like the city of Rapture itself? Apparently not!
“I am still attached. Yes, we’re still working on that one, that’s one also that I’m very excited about,” Lawrence told Collider.
Obviously a number of factors have contributed to the delay. The ongoing global pandemic, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and a number of shake ups at Netflix. There was also the matter of massive budget cuts for this film. As alarming as the latter of those might sound, a good director and team can still do wonders with a small budget. Hell, look at “Alien: Romulus,” which was a shoestring compared to other franchise entries.
We’ve entered an era where films and series based off of video games can actually have strong storytelling and critical success. Prime Video’s “Fallout“ and HBO’s “The Last of Us“ have been benchmarks for what these adaptations can be. There’s even a “God of War” tv series in development. “Bioshock” has the potential to hit those heights if it can capture what made the games so compelling. The idea of a failed libertarian utopia, the battle being waged for it, and the genetic horrors inside would make for a great horror story. That’s even if the writers of the film decide to go with the plot of the first game.
We’re glad that Lawrence is still onboard and the project continues to be developed. We look forward to future updates and seeing this film come to fruition.
