11 Sep 2025

The live-action video game adaptation trend has, at times, been a rocky ride. But of late, filmmakers have increasingly begun to learn how to deliver high-quality adaptations on screen—at times even superlative ones. And now, the iconic BioShock franchise is next in line to receive the big-screen adaptation treatment, with the up-ahead-for-filming movie adaptation taking its cues from the original game.

Future BioShock Film Adaptation Is Drawn From The Original Game

Originally released in 2007, BioShock was a hit immediately. The game transported gamers into the deteriorating underwater city of Rapture, a dystopian culture once a shining paradigm of objectivist ideals. As you traverse the haunted corridors of Rapture, you will learn quickly that nothing is as it seems—social, political, and moral decay run rampant, and the city is overrun with mad citizens known as Splicers, and also the terrorizing Big Daddies and Little Sisters.

The game's narrative concerns the quest of a faceless hero (later identified as Jack), who, when his plane crashes over the sea, is shipwrecked close to Rapture. With a voice in his head guiding him through the wasteland (Atlas, resistance commander), the hero embarks on a journey of discovery that reveals dark truths about the city and the ideology that destroyed it. Setting and story are evoked by hints of freedom, capitalism, and dangers of absolute power—set in a richly atmospheric and wonderfully creepy environment.

Movie Adaptation Details

The BioShock movie has been in the works for a very long time, and it's now officially confirmed to be an adaptation of the original BioShock game. The Direct reports that the producer of the film, Roy Lee, who has also produced movies like The Minecraft Movie and The Long Walk, has stated that the movie will stay loyal to the original game's storyline.

But facts have not yet come out, as the production is currently in script development. It's been a bumpy ride, but things are now good. Following script completion, the movie then rests in the hands of director Francis Lawrence, who has directed Constantine, The Hunger Games franchise, and I Am Legend. Lawrence's skill with visually striking, atmospheric settings will definitely serve him in re-creating the creepy, alien world of Rapture.

Expectations and Visuals

As a video game, BioShock was as much concerned with thematic depth as it was with its stunning world design. The city of Rapture itself was a character, a ruined testament to human pride and arrogance. Its deco art-inspired architecture, broken neon signs, and underwater world made it a location that was impossible to forget. The movie version will surely have its work cut out in replicating that atmosphere, but with the right guidance, has the potential to create the same creepy atmosphere that made the game such a draw.

Visuals aside, Lawrence's efforts in I Am Legend had already demonstrated his competence at creating post-apocalyptic environments that are lush and, simultaneously, off-putting. Were he to bring the same degree of attention to detail to Rapture, we could be looking at a visually stunning experience. Rapture itself, with its crumbling opulence and haunted undertones, is full of potential for amazing set design, props, and digital effects—something which should easily translate onto the big screen.

Thematic Potential

As much as the movie will undoubtedly focus on the story, it's hard not to overlook the powerful themes that BioShock has. Essentially, the game is a critique of the libertarian ideals that are pushed to their limits in Rapture city. While the philosophical arguments of the game's central character, Andrew Ryan, and his idea for the city may not interest everyone, the core message regarding the dangers of unrestrained individualism and power is a solid thematic premise.

As a setting, Rapture's downfall was an allegory for the failure of a failed utopia—and seeing it so fully embodied in this visually gorgeous presentation could be an opening for audiences to revisit the city's downfall on a different level that will feel authoritative and timely.

The Big Question

But the question is: will the BioShock movie live up to the hype? After all, video game movies haven't exactly had a sparkling track record. Having said that, BioShock has never been like other games when it comes to telling its story, and its world has never been one that could be larger than the game itself—it could be a movie. The fact that the film is about the first game, and not BioShock Infinite, is a wise choice. The locations and atmosphere of the original BioShock are much better for making a good and visually engaging film.

There is still quite a bit that will get resolved as shooting continues along, but with Francis Lawrence driving the vehicle and a script written from the source material, there is room for BioShock to be one of the very rare good live-action video game adaptations that actually gets it right.