Already involved in various adaptions like the well-received The Witcher (although it is not technically based on the games) and the Castlevania series, Netflix is continuing to dabble in video game properties. Although games have historically not had the smoothest ride to the cinema, some recent big and small screen adaptions have raised the hopes of fans. Now, with the announcement that Netflix is officially making a BioShock film, fans finally have something concrete to look forward to. While details are still scarce, this hasn’t stopped players that have loved the series for years from speculating what a big screen adaption might entail.
RELATED: Classic Games That Deserve The Mario Movie Treatment
All The Details Released So Far
Although the collaboration has reportedly been in place for over a year, the announcement only reached fans this week, and little is still known about the secretive project. The film will be a partnership between the streaming service and publisher Take-Two Interactive, which is listed as a producer along with Vertigo Entertainment. According to rumor, no writer, director, or any onscreen talent has been attached to the project yet, and things are still in early development, so it will be awhile before fans actually see a trailer or get a premiere date. However, fans shouldn’t necessarily see this as troubling, despite previous attempts to develop a BioShock film failing to follow through.
BioShock creator Ken Levine revealed that he personally made the decision to cancel the budding BioShock film project back when it was trying to get off the ground, after citing concerns over the restrictive budget and his belief that they wouldn’t be able to do the games’ justice. With such staunch support to remain true to the BioShock vision, hopefully the upcoming adaption will tick all the boxes when it comes to fan expectations. Although it’s hard to say when audiences might expect to see the finished film or learn more about it, Netflix might want to tie it with the upcoming release of Cloud Chamber’s upcoming, untitled BioShock game.
What The Film Could Focus On
The Netflix BioShock film was announced on the streamer’s official Netflix Geeked Twitter account, featuring an infamous quote from Rapture creator Andrew Ryan, “we all make choices, but in the end our choices make us.” This explicit reference to one of the most standout characters in the franchise could point towards a Rapture connection — no doubt a welcome focus for fans. Rapture was not only the memorable location of BioShock and BioShock 2, but it also featured in the DLC for BioShock Infinite, Burial at Sea. Rapture is so ubiquitous within the franchise and has such an impact on players that it has already been used in some fanmade BioShock films.
Rapture is an obvious choice for the setting of the film and would not only make for a visually stunning and creatively diverse location, but it would also give fans a chance to further experience the underwater metropolis through a new medium. While the dilapidated post-fall Rapture is a familiar sight, the idealistic city as it was during its prime has not had as much screen time. A film that explored the watery environment before it was the battleground for figures like Atlas and Ryan would be a very interesting proposition, and could delve deeper into the ideological foundations of Rapture’s creation (and how these were subsequently polluted and exploited).
Alternatively, BioShock is no stranger to the exploration of thorny philosophical issues. BioShock is so rich in lore that the action could be transposed to an entirely new location, while still maintaining the same aesthetics, narrative style, and core issues at the heart of a BioShock game. With rumors that BioShock 4 or the film could have an arctic setting, this could provide the opportunity for a brand new BioShock story. While new characters and new locations could be an interesting development, players will no doubt be disappointed if they don’t at least get a glimpse at a film version of Rapture. However, this could be where the proposed cinematic universe could come in.
RELATED: The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Netflix
BioShock’s Cinematic Universe
Fans may not have many details about the upcoming film, but there was one incredibly interesting bit of info that came with the announcement. Netflix’s deal for BioShock was signed with a future focus on developing a cinematic universe around the BioShock games. This couldn’t be more perfect for the franchise, especially considering the pleasingly full-circle aspect of its overarching narrative after the revelations in Burial at Sea. Elizabeth’s assertion at the end of BioShock: Infinite that there’s always a man and always a lighthouse means that the possibilities for stories with the same themes are literally endless. For a franchise that has no problem tackling convoluted timelines and parallel worlds, a cinematic universe makes sense.
With this in mind, the film (or subsequent films, if the proposal of a cinematic universe is to be believed) could feature elements of the cloud-based Columbia, the submerged Rapture, and any number of brand-new locations. BioShock already has such an immersive, well-designed world that would translate well to the big screen, and a film franchise could help to build on that with even more dystopian locations and time periods.
Copying the way that the first season of The Witcher featured a surprisingly complex timeline means that the films could concurrently span across Booker and Elizabeth’s turn of the century timeline, and Jack’s mid-century one, possibly extending further into the future as well. Fans will no doubt be paying close attention to any further details released by Netflix in the coming years.
A BioShock film is in development at Netflix.
MORE: 20 Action RPGs To Play If You Like BioShock
