Jun 3 2009 'BioShock' Might Not Be a Movie After All

Good or bad news, BioShock fans: the LA Times is reporting that the popular first-person shooter might not make it to the big screen, meaning you may never get to see your favorite characters and scenes brought to life on film, or, that you'll be saved from having to see yet another of your most cherished video games dragged through the muck of Hollywood.

As usual, the problem comes down to money. And the issue of moving to a foreign country for a year or two:

Verbinski, who is currently working on the animated film "Rango," isn't confident about "Bioshock's" making it to the big screen. It's been previously reported that the film is on hold due to concerns about its escalating budget. Verbinski tells the Times that it could probably get made, if it is shot in one of those foreign countries that offer a generous tax credit. And he's not sure whether he wants to go overseas for the year-plus it would require to make it.

Don't cry, little ones. With plans for Duke Nukem and Rock Band movies still on the horizon, I doubt there will be a lack of beloved video game adaptations to bemoan. And once someone shows a studio executive the back of a Sega Genesis box, I'm sure we'll hear plans for movie versions of Sonic the Hedgehog, Toejam and Earl, Altered Beast, and Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Boxing soon enough.

(Thanks, Joshua.)

Dec 18 2008 This Will Probably Be Like 'The Wizard'

Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski has acquired the film rights to an article in the Wall Street Journal about a man's obsession with the video game Second Life:

Universal and "Pirates of the Caribbean" helmer Gore Verbinski have acquired a 2007 Wall Street Journal article they will use as the basis for a film about the online fantasy role-playing world and its detrimental impact on the real lives of players.

Verbinski will develop the film as a directing vehicle; Steven Knight ("Eastern Promises") will pen the script.

The article by Alexandra Alter focuses on a married man who spends as many as 20 hours a day on a computer, existing through an avatar who is a thriving, musclebound entrepreneur. In reality, he is a diabetic, chain-smoking 53-year-old.

I just read the article (you can too!) and what the Variety story fails to mention is that the man is an electronic bigamist--married to one woman in real life and another lady in Second Life. So with that conflict and advanced computer graphics taking us INSIDE THE COMPUTER, I guess I can almost imagine how a man literally only playing an online game could be a movie. This part of the story will probably come at the height of the second act:

He upgraded his avatar, buying defined stomach muscles, a furry chest and special hair that sways when he walks.

When you buy yourself special hair that sways when you walk, you're just setting yourself up for a fall.

Universal, Verbinski plan to role-play [Variety]