Universal has signed a deal to bring the hit videogame “Bioshock” to the screen with director Gore Verbinski set to helm the project.
Image from Bioshock for the XBox 360
Variety reports Verbinski will direct and produce the film. Writer John Logan is in talks to pen the screenplay.
"Bioshock" publisher Take-Two Interactive will enjoy a big payday from the deal with a multimillion-dollar advance against gross points on the film.
The deal is estimated to be the biggest videogame-to-movie deal since Universal and Fox signed onto the now aborted "Halo" film in 2005. That deal brought Microsoft got $5 million against 10%.
In Variety, Take-Two executive chairman Strauss Zelnick said the deal is designed to ensure "Bioshock" will make it to the screen and not end up in turnaround like "Halo" - which has returned to Microsoft.
The story for "Bioshock" takes place in an underwater city based on the free market principles of Ayn Rand. However, things have gone disastrously wrong. In the game, players control a pilot who crash-lands at a secret entrance to the city, called Rapture, and is caught in the power struggle during which he discovers that his will is not as free as he'd thought.
In Variety, Verbinski stated: "I think the whole utopia-gone-wrong story that's cleverly unveiled to players is just brimming with cinematic potential. Of all the games I've played, this is one that I felt has a really strong narrative."
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