The long-awaited film adaptation of the BioShock video game series has moved closer to reality, with director Francis Lawrence reporting that the script is nearing completion. Lawrence expressed optimism about the project's status in a recent interview, stating that the team is "pretty close" to finalizing the script and that he is "feeling really good about it."
The BioShock movie has been in various stages of development for over a decade. Initially, Gore Verbinski was attached to direct a big-budget, R-rated theatrical release, but the project stalled. Netflix later acquired the rights in 2022, but a regime change at the streamer reportedly led to the film being scaled back to a more "personal" story. Michael Green and Justin Rhodes are currently credited as writers for the script.
Lawrence, who also has "The Long Walk" and "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" on his plate, indicated that he could potentially begin work on the BioShock film as early as 2027, though he cautioned that Hollywood production timelines are subject to change.
Take-Two, the rights-holder for BioShock, is reportedly eager for the film's release, with plans for it to coincide with potential new game entries. This aligns with recent statements from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, who confirmed that the development of BioShock 4 is ongoing despite earlier reports of a major overhaul and layoffs at developer Cloud Chamber. Former Diablo boss Rod Fergusson has taken over leadership at Cloud Chamber, a move reminiscent of his involvement in the development of BioShock Infinite.