Bioshock Movie – What We Know So Far
Article by Kieran Burt.
Bioshock is one of the most beloved video game franchises, with its blend of horror, RPG and first person shooter elements, and its philosophical influences. Earlier in the year, Netflix confirmed that they would be making a film adaptation to put on their service, in collaboration with 2K Games and Take-Two Interactive.
This was done via the NetflixFilm twitter account, which includes a reference to one of the most surprising twists in video game history. The tweet is accompanied by a picture of a Big Daddy, a recognisable enemy from the original game.
Take-Two Interactive’s CEO Strauss Zelnick put out a statement saying:
“Netflix is among the best and most forward-thinking storytellers in all of entertainment today. We are thrilled that they share our vision and commitment to the BioShock franchise, which is beloved by millions of fans around the world. 2K’s Cloud Chamber studio is deep in active development on the next iteration of the series, and coupled with our partnership with Netflix, we remain highly confident that BioShock will continue to captivate and engage audiences like never before.”
A few months later, it was revealed that the Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence will be directing the movie. Michael Green, whose previous credits include Bladerunner 2049 and Logan, will be writing the script for this film.
Netflix has revealed a synopsis for the film, stating that the blend of science fiction and horror will “pose unique existential and societal questions reshaping how game stories are told – all amidst pulse-pounding action gameplay that rewards sharp shooting, clever planning and lethal improvisation”.
Netflix has also stated that the plot of the film will involve visiting many dystopian landscapes, though didn’t give any more detail. This hints that it won’t be a direct adaptation of what happens in the game, but it will instead be a new entry into the Bioshock world. It’s currently unknown how or if the film will fit into the Bioshock timeline. There hasn’t been any cast announcements for the film so far.
The first Bioshock was released in 2007 by 2K Games, which takes place in the underwater city of Rapture. This dystopian city is home to plenty of creatures and citizens, the most iconic being the Little Sisters and Big Daddies. Set in an alternative 1960, the game takes influence from the work of several philosophers, including George Orwell and Ayn Rand. Bioshock has been followed by two sequels, Bioshock 2 and Bioshock Infinite, the latter being set in the airbourne dystopia of Columbia instead of the underwater nightmare of Rapture.
Francis Lawrence has a busy schedule ahead of him, as he is returning to the world of Hunger Games to direct the prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and will direct the Constantine sequel in the works at Warner Bros. Michael Green is also working on the upcoming Bladerunner 2099 series for Amazon Prime.
Netflix is yet to give Bioshock a release date, and due to the busy schedule of the creative’s fans will likely have to wait a while for its release.
