'BioShock' Developer Feels No 'Need' To Make Film Adaptation

[NelsonG]

[img]http://moviesblog.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bioshockinfinite.jpg[/img]

The sheer magnitude of terrible videogame-to-film adaptations is quite staggering. Try as they might, Hollywood has faced an uphill battle in delivering games to the big screen in any form other than schlock that alienates the original product's fans. At this point, I'm convinced that Uwe Boll is secretly part of some massive government experiment to test the pain threshold of theater-goers everywhere, utilizing his incredible ability to turn decent videogames into absolutely horrid films.

All that said, some development studios attempt to avoid the adaptation scenario all-together, or come to the realization that maybe their game franchise just doesn't [i]need[/i] to be a film if that means the source material losing its voice.

Apparently, that's precisely what's going on with Irrational Games and their overwhelmingly successful "[url="http://moviesblog.mtv.com/tag/bioshock/"]BioShock[/url]" series.

Speaking to [url="http://www.industrygamers.com/news/bioshock-creator-has-no-need-to-get-movie-made/"]Industry Gamers[/url], Irrational co-founder and the brains behind "BioShock" Ken Levine stated that despite previous attempts to bring the underwater adventure game to theaters, the studio just doesn't feel compelled to focus their energy on the project.

"We got very close to having it get made – we had a deal in place and a director. But for us there's no burning [desire] to have a movie made just to get it made," Levine said in the interview. "For us and for Take-Two, it's really got to be something that will a) give the fans something that they want, and b) for those who don't know 'BioShock,' really introduce them to something that is consistent with the game, and is it going to be a good representation of the game."

Now, there has been some conversation over the last day or so, stating that the film is "[url="http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=32488"]sunk[/url]" or isn't happening. Personally, I don't think that's what Levine is saying here. The studio is currently focused on getting their next title, "BioShock Infinite," out the door. While it may be possible for the developer to hand off the project to any number of film studios, why get behind an adaptation that just phones it in? As Levine says, why make a movie "just to get it made?"

Videogames are an ever-growing, maturing business that are increasingly dominating the entertainment space. Much like Ubisoft recently left Hollywood supposedly "[url="http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/11/07/assassins-creed-adaptation-deal-hollywood-shocked/"]flabbergasted[/url]" over their demand for control with the "[url="http://moviesblog.mtv.com/tag/assassins-creed/"]Assassin's Creed[/url]" adaptation, game studios will probably continue to require a deeper hand in film production. Will a "BioShock" film ever get made? Maybe, maybe not – but it will be on Irrational Games' terms.

If that keeps the Boll pain at a reasonable level, then gamers – and movie lovers – should be all for it.

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