Summary
Netflix’sBioShockmovie finally received some updates during a panel at this year’sSan Diego Comic-Con, whichScreen Rantattended, and the news isn’t particularly reassuring. Fans ofBioShock- myself included - have seen dozens of differentvideo game IPs get Hollywood-grade adaptationssince the firstBioShockgame was first released more than 15 years ago. Since then, while other AAA titles have been made into films, two moreBioShockgames were released, with the most recent game,BioShock: Infinite, becoming a cult favorite and an award-winner in 2013. The IP is overdue for a film.
Rumors of the intent to make aBioShockmoviehave been heard since 2008, but scheduling conflicts and delays placed any hopes of aBioShockmovie on hold as it languished in much-dreaded development hell. Admittedly, it finally seems stable now that it has a writer, Michael Green (Blade Runner 2049,Logan), a director, Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,I Am Legend), and a producer, Roy Lee (IT,The Departed), but the film currently remains in pre-production.WhileBioShockis on track for release, recent news makes me nervous about the result’s quality.
Every Movie & TV Show Trailer From SDCC 2024
The Transformers One trailer rolled out ahead of the pack at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con — but a bunch of other first-look trailers are on the way.
Netflix’s Lower Budget Update For The BioShock Movie Is Concerning
This Suggests A Lack Of Faith In The Franchise’s Potential
If ever there was a time to wipe away the cobwebs from theBioShockmovie and provide an update on its status, it’s now. With multiplemovie and TV show announcements at SDCC, many were expecting to learn more about theBioShockfilm and whether it was happening. WhileBioShockseems to be moving forward, the circumstances are not ideal, particularly for such a complex universe.Producer Roy Lee used Collider’s Producers on Producers panel to provide an updateabout thestate of theBioShockNetflix filmadaptation.
“The new [Netflix] regime has lowered the budgets… [so] we’re doing a much smaller version… It’s going to be a more personal point of view, as opposed to a grander, more epic project."
Netflix’s strategy for upcoming projects seems to revolve around cost-saving endeavors. Unfortunately, one of the projects impacted by this strategy is theBioShockmovie. This is particularly frustrating given thatit has been over 10 years since any new BioShock content has hit the market. Fans are eager for more. The delays - and now the budget cuts - are very worrying. I just hope that, no matter the budget, theBioShockmovie is approached with the reverence the franchise has earned.
Why BioShock Deserves To Be A “Big Epic Movie”
BioShock’s Universe Welcomes Large, Epic Stories
Given that, apart from the addition of some excellent downloadable content (DLC), there are only three titles in theBioShockfranchise, it’s remarkable how narratively rich its characters and settings are. This is what makes the prospect of a movie exciting - and is what makes me terrified that it will be mishandled and critically discarded.BioShock: Infinitecompletely flipped the script on the world ofBioShockas we knew it, opening up limitless possibilities and the potential for multiverse-like storytelling.BioShock: Infinite’s second DLC, “Burial at Sea,” reframed the original game’s story and recontextualized the third game’s stakes.
Regardless of the games' future,BioShockdeserves a great adaptation.
The film, if made correctly, can lead to sequels, prequels, and TV spin-offs. Additionally,if theBioShockmovie does well, it’s good for the game series and the likelihood of a fourth game, which we’ve seen before.The Last of Us,for one example, directly contributed to a spike in the game’s sales;The Last of Us: Part Ireceived a 322% sales boomafter the HBO series took the world by storm. In short, the fate of future installments within the franchise might depend on Netflix’s approach toBioShock. Regardless of the games' future,BioShockdeserves a great adaptation.
BioShock
BioShock is an upcoming live-action film adaptation of the video game series. Set in 1960, it follows Jack as he discovers Rapture, an underwater city filled with complex mysteries and political intrigue.
