Variety is reporting that Universal and Gore Verbinski have worked out a deal with 2K to bring the company's smash-hit BioShock to the big screen.
Verbinski is best known as the director of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, and was behind the famous commercial featuring a trio of frogs croaking the Budweiser brand name. He is set to direct and produce, while "Aviator" writer John Logan is reportedly in talks to pen the screenplay.
BioShock publisher Take-Two Interactive is reportedly receiving a multimillion-dollar advance against gross points on the film.
Take-Two Executive Chairman Strauss Zelnick said the "state of the art" deal is structured so that "BioShock" won't end up in turnaround like the cancelled "Halo" film, which is back with Microsoft.
"The reason I structured it the way I did is to make sure it gets made," he emphasized.
"I think the whole utopia-gone-wrong story that's cleverly unveiled to players is just brimming with cinematic potential," said Verbinski. "Of all the games I've played, this is one that I felt has a really strong narrative."
Ken Levine has been consulted on the project, but it's not yet clear if the game's designer will have a formal role in the film.
