Everything We Know About Netflix’s Upcoming BioShock Movie

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The movie version of BioShock, being created by Netflix, has been under development for quite a few years now. Although specifics are yet to be fully disclosed, there have been some revelations about the production process.

Back in February 2022, I learned that Netflix is working on a BioShock movie. Unfortunately, there’s no release date yet, but here’s what we know so far about the project. If you’re intrigued by the latest updates on this film, which started production over 15 years ago, keep reading for an in-depth look at everything we’ve gathered about Netflix’s upcoming BioShock adaptation!

Table of Contents [hide]

  • When does the BioShock movie come out?
  • Who is directing the BioShock movie?
  • Production scaled back
  • BioShock film plot details
  • Who is starring in the BioShock film?
  • The future of BioShock

When does the BioShock movie come out?

As of now, neither a trailer nor a release date for the movie has been shared by Netflix.

Who is directing the BioShock movie?

Back when I was eagerly anticipating the big screen adaptation of BioShock, helmed by Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski, it seemed like a sure thing in 2011. The film was to align with the release of BioShock Infinite (which eventually came out in 2013 after several delays). However, things didn’t go as smoothly as we all hoped.

Verbinski had to step down from directing due to budget issues, particularly the high costs associated with potentially shooting overseas. Universal was still on board as producers, and Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (known for 28 Weeks Later) was brought in to replace Verbinski as director. The duo aimed to keep the film’s expenses from spiraling out of control, like they might have with Sky-Line budgets.

But then, without much fanfare, production on the movie was mysteriously put on hold sometime around late 2010 or early 2011. Despite the initial excitement, it seems that the BioShock film may have sunk beneath the waves, leaving us gamers still longing for that underwater city on the silver screen.

Following this, there was complete silence regarding a BioShock movie until the announcement in 2022 that Netflix had partnered with Take-Two Interactive and 2K Games to produce the film. This movie would be exclusive to Netflix, directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games) and written by Michael Green (Blade Runner 2049). However, later on, Green was replaced by Justin Rhodes (Terminator: Dark Fate, Secret Level), who is now reworking the original script that Green had written.

Production scaled back

2024 marked a shift in my expectations for this highly-anticipated movie when it was revealed during production that the creators were now working with a more modest budget, due to changes in leadership at Netflix. At the San Diego Comic-Con that year, producer Roy Lee shared that the project had been restructured to deliver a more intimate and personal cinematic experience. This adjustment came about as Dan Lin took over from Scott Stuber as Netflix’s film chief.

In an interview, Lee stated that the recent changes have resulted in reduced budgets. This means we’ll be working on a scaled-down version… It will offer a more intimate perspective, contrasting with the larger, comprehensive projects.

BioShock film plot details

The plot details are sparse, but it appears that Lawrence, Rhodes, and Lee aim to create a movie based on the 2007 BioShock video game. It remains intriguing how they will manage to recreate the underwater city of Rapture, given the challenge of doing so within a smaller budget. Notably, when Verbinski was involved in production, the film’s estimated budget was around $200 million.

Despite the tightened purse strings, I remain optimistic about the movie’s prospects, even as we navigate through challenges during production.

Lawrence expressed during a May 2025 interview that the adaptation process is quite challenging, involving numerous aspects to be worked out and perfected. However, he seems optimistic about their current progress, saying, “Honestly, I think we’re doing quite well.

Who is starring in the BioShock film?

As a die-hard fan eagerly anticipating the upcoming movie, I can’t help but share my excitement as rumors swirl about potential cast members. Although no official casting decisions have been made yet, it seems some stars are already expressing interest in the project. In March 2025, Jack Quaid, who played The Boys, hinted at his involvement by expressing his enthusiasm during a Reddit AMA. As a self-proclaimed video game enthusiast with a soft spot for FromSoftware games and BioShock, I can only hope he’ll be joining the cast!

Quaid posted, “First I completed Bloodborne, followed by Sekiro, now I’m diving deep into Elden Ring. To be honest, I spend the majority of my time on Reddit to gather strategies and hints about defeating the bosses created by FromSoft.

When asked about his ideal acting role, Quaid expressed his desire for a part in a live-action version of the classic video game BioShock. Given how much he adores this game and its intricate backstory, he believes it would make an exceptional TV show or movie.

It appears that Quaid could be a good fit for the part, as he even bears the same first name as BioShock’s main character. However, Netflix has yet to confirm whether Quaid will indeed be part of the cast. Furthermore, they haven’t disclosed any other information about the actors who might be involved in the movie, if any have been signed on at all.

The future of BioShock

Regarding the BioShock video game franchise, it’s Cloud Chamber Studios under 2K that’s working on the next installment in the series. However, production is still in its initial stages, so details about the game are scarce. One thing we do know for sure is that Ken Levine, the creator of the BioShock series, won’t be involved this time around. Instead, he’s focusing on Judas, a science fiction first-person shooter being developed by his new studio, Ghost Story Games.

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2025-05-27 20:15