Francis Lawrence says Netflix’s long-delayed “BioShock” adaptation remains alive but unfinished, and a shake-up in the studio’s leadership is the latest obstacle between the project and a camera. Lawrence, who is directing, spoke to The Direct during press for “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” which opens November 20. He confirmed the film remains in active development. He called the adaptation tricky on several fronts. He also pointed to “regime changes and just all of that kind of nonsense” at Netflix.
Hollywood has chased this property for almost two decades. Gore Verbinski was attached to direct as far back as 2008, and Guillermo del Toro later held talks that collapsed. Netflix, 2K and Take-Two Interactive announced their own version in 2022. Michael Green wrote early drafts, and a later draft came from Justin Rhodes.
The central difficulty lies in the game’s design. The 2007 title casts the player as a protagonist who obeys commands without knowing it, and free will drives the story. Del Toro identified the same fundamental problem Lawrence now faces. A film cannot hand viewers a controller.
Money has tightened too. At San Diego Comic-Con, producer Roy Lee said the movie is being reworked into a “more personal” project with a scaled-down budget. Dan Lin has since replaced Scott Stuber as Netflix’s head of film. Lee has said the script is based on the first game and set in Rapture. Take-Two reportedly wants the release timed to coincide with new games in the franchise, and production is targeted for 2027.
Lawrence’s calendar adds pressure. He is also set to direct an adaptation of the novel “Red Rising,” and it is unclear whether “BioShock” or that project comes first. Lawrence says he would love nothing more than to make the film. Netflix has not announced a start date, a cast or a budget.
