Bioshock movie undergoing budget cuts, getting new director

Game-to-film translations begin with an uphill battle to, well, not suck. Universal Studios’ adaptation of Bioshockhttp://www.gamertell.com/gaming/tag/bioshock/ has hit some major stumbling blocks, including a change in director.

The movie treatment of the hit Take-Two game was initially to be helmed by Gore Verbinski, director of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Variety reports that Verbinski stepped down because budget concerns led Universal to move filming abroad to help cut costs through tax credits and favorable exchange rates. Verbinski couldn’t commit to an overseas shooting schedule because of another project although he will remain on as a producer.

Reports are that the Bioshock budget has ballooned to $160 million, leading the studio to figure out ways to cut costs. Variety reports that Universal officials have vowed this won’t be another Halo. That much-anticipated film project never got out of development hell and was eventually shelved amid rising budget concerns.

Universal is apparently forging ahead and is in talks with another director to replace Verbinski. The studio is looking at Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, a director whose breakthrough movie was the zombie sequel 28 Weeks Later. His deal is contingent on approval from Bioshock publisher Take Two.

Bioshock’s twisted story is one of the things that sets it apart from other games in the shooter genres. It certainly has the potential to be a good movie, but these latest developments don’t exactly inspire confidence.

Read [Variety] Also Read [Wired]