A film adaptation of BioShock is currently several years into development at Netflix, and while details are still relatively sparse, we do know some of what’s going on behind the scenes.
First announced in February 2022, Netflix’s BioShock movie does not yet have a release date, but more details are beginning to emerge regarding the production. If you’re interested in the current state of the film–which first entered production over 15 years ago–would you kindly keep scrolling for a detailed breakdown of everything we know about Netflix’s upcoming BioShock adaptation?
When does the BioShock movie come out?
Currently, we’ve yet to even see a trailer for the film, and Netflix hasn’t announced a release date.
Who is directing the BioShock movie?
Previously, a BioShock film helmed by Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski was planned for release in 2011, aiming to line up with the release of BioShock Infinite (which ended up not launching until 2013, after multiple delays). The film was to be R-rated and produced by Universal, and production was underway, with concept art for the project shared online. But by August 2009, it was announced that Verbinski had left his role as director due to budget issues, including the costs of potentially shooting overseas. The plan was for Verbinski to stay on in a producer role, with Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) replacing Verbinski as director. Verbinski and Fresnadillo planned to work together to keep the film’s budget from reaching Sky-Line heights. But for reasons unknown, production on the film was quietly halted in late 2010 or early 2011.
After that, not a peep was heard about a BioShock movie until Netflix announced in 2022 that it was teaming up with Take-Two Interactive and 2K Games to create the film, which would be a Netflix exclusive directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games) and written by Michael Green (Blade Runner 2049). Green was later replaced by Justin Rhodes (Terminator: Dark Fate, Secret Level), who is re-drafting Green’s original script.
Production scaled back
All seemed well until July 2024, when it was announced that although the film was still in production, its creators were now working with a significantly scaled-back budget. At that year’s San Diego Comic-Con, producer Roy Lee explained that the project had been “reconfigured” to become a “more personal” film. According to Lee, the reduction in budget was the result of a regime change that saw Dan Lin replace Scott Stuber as Netflix’s film boss.
“The new regime has lowered the budgets,” Lee said in an interview. “So we’re doing a much smaller version… It’s going to be a more personal point of view, as opposed to a grander, big project.”
BioShock film plot details
Details are scarce when it comes to the film’s plot, but it seems that Lawrence, Rhodes, and Lee are shooting for an adaptation of the original 2007 BioShock game. It’s hard to imagine how the filmmakers will bring the undersea city of Rapture to life on a reduced budget, especially given the fact that–back when Verbinski was leading production–the film’s budget was estimated to be in the $200 million range.
But despite the shrunken budget, Lawrence seems confident in the film’s future, though production certainly has obstacles to overcome.
“It’s a tricky adaptation, so there’s lots of things to figure out and to get right,” Lawrence said in a May 2025 interview. “I think we’re in a pretty good place, honestly.”
Who is starring in the BioShock film?
With the film still early in production, no official casting announcements have been made, but that hasn’t stopped some stars from throwing their hats in the ring. In March 2025, The Boys star Jack Quaid indicated interest in the film, revealing in a Reddit AMA that he’s a “huge video game nerd” with a penchant for FromSoftware games and a passion for BioShock.
“I beat Bloodborne, then I beat Sekiro, and now I’m going full boar into Elden Ring,” Quaid wrote. “Actually, the thing I use Reddit the most for is tips and tricks on beating FromSoft’s bosses.”
When asked what his “dream role” was, Quaid replied, “I would actually love to be in a live-action adaptation of BioShock–one of my favorite games of all time. I think there’s such a rich lore to that game that could be explored in a TV or movie adaptation.”
Quaid does seem well-suited to the role–he even shares a first name with BioShock’s protagonist–but despite his enthusiasm, Netflix still hasn’t revealed whether Quaid will join the cast, nor has the streaming giant shared any other details regarding which actors, if any, have signed on for roles in the film.
The future of BioShock
As for the BioShock game series, 2K’s Cloud Chamber Studios is developing the next BioShock title. But like the film, the next BioShock game is still early in production. We don’t know much about it, except that BioShock series creator Ken Levine is definitely not involved, as he is currently working on Judas, a sci-fi first-person shooter being developed by Levine’s new studio, Ghost Story Games.
Fans know what they want out of a BioShock film, but if you’d like to throw in your two cents and let us know what you’re hoping to see in Netflix’s adaptation of the game, would you kindly head to the comments section and share your thoughts?
