Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has spoken about his past attempts to adapt video games into movies, revealing that his conversations with the creators of BioShock were particularly fraught. In a recent interview, del Toro described the experience as one of the "most disastrous calls" he has ever had.
Del Toro, known for his work on films like Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy, explained that the fundamental differences between video game storytelling and filmmaking present significant challenges for adaptation. "I find that the dynamics of a video game are very different than a movie," he stated. While acknowledging that games can be cinematically similar, he emphasized that player agency and problem-solving in games diverge from the linear narrative structure of films. He drew a parallel to his own unreleased game project, Insane, which he described as creating an "illusion of an infinite sandbox" where players' decisions, though guided, ultimately lead them through the experience.
Despite these difficulties, del Toro expressed admiration for BioShock's world, noting it as a game he "could get lost in for ages." He also shared his enjoyment of other titles such as Left 4 Dead, Death Stranding, and Shadow of the Colossus, the latter prompting deep reflection on "untangible things." He admitted, however, to disliking the repetitive respawning mechanic in Dead Cells. On a lighter note, del Toro confessed that his most frequently played game is Angry Birds, a title he claims to be "really good at."
The BioShock film has been in some form of development since 2010. In 2022, 2K announced plans for a Netflix adaptation. More recently, producer Roy Lee indicated in 2024 that the project was still active but undergoing a significant budget reduction, shifting towards a "much smaller version" with a more personal perspective.