After years of uncertainty, the long-anticipated BioShock film appears to be moving forward in a more concrete direction. In a recent interview with The Direct while promoting his latest project The Long Walk, producer Roy Lee confirmed that Francis Lawrence’s upcoming adaptation will directly follow the story of the original 2007 BioShock game.
“It’s definitely going to be based on the first BioShock game,” Lee stated when asked about the project. Although details remain tightly controlled by Netflix, his comments mark the clearest confirmation yet regarding the adaptation’s narrative foundation.
Lee went on to explain that while The Long Walk became a priority during a pause in BioShock’s development, Lawrence remains committed to the project once his obligations to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping are completed. “It’s just waiting for him whenever the Hunger Games is completed, and the script is just being worked on right now,” Lee explained.
This aligns with director Francis Lawrence’s earlier remarks to IGN in May, when he described the adaptation as “tricky” but in “a pretty good place.” Lawrence cited shifts within Netflix’s leadership as one of the factors behind the project’s delays, though he expressed optimism about its current trajectory.
First announced by Netflix in 2022, the BioShock film has faced numerous hurdles, including the 2023 Writers Guild strike and changes in the streaming platform’s executive structure. Michael Green penned earlier versions of the screenplay, with the most recent draft being handled by Justin Rhodes.
According to Lee, one major adjustment has been a reduced budget following Netflix’s internal reshuffle. While the original plan was to deliver a large-scale, visually ambitious production, the new vision emphasizes a “more personal point of view.” By narrowing the scope, the film will focus on the core atmosphere and themes that defined the BioShock experience rather than attempting to replicate its grand scale.
The BioShock franchise, known for its immersive storytelling and philosophical underpinnings, has often been viewed as challenging to adapt for film. However, with Francis Lawrence’s experience on projects like I Am Legend and The Hunger Games, fans are hopeful that this latest attempt will finally succeed where others have stalled.
Though no release date has been announced, the combination of Lawrence’s confirmed involvement, an active script in development, and Lee’s reassurances suggest that Rapture may at last be preparing to surface on screen.
