Bioshock film to be made by Pirates director

May 12, News.com.au

PIRATES Of The Caribbean director Gore Verbinski will make a movie based on the hit videogame Bioshock, Take-Two Interactive Software has announced.

"Gore is an avid video gamer and true fan of Bioshock. That was extremely important to us in deciding to move forward with this project," said president of Take-Two's 2K Games label Christoph Hartmann.

The movie will be made by Universal Pictures and John Logan, the screenwriter behind Gladiator and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street, was in talks to pen the script, the company said.

Take-Two did not disclose financial terms of the deal or other details, such as when the film would be released.

The company is currently the target of a $US2 billion ($2.12 billion) takeover bid by rival game publisher Electronic Arts.

Released last August for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console, Bioshock won praise for its complex story, haunting art deco atmosphere and creepy characters such as Big Daddies and Little Sisters.

The game has sold more than 2 million copies and Take-Two is working on a sequel.

The Bioshock movie deal is the latest sign of the growing importance of video games in popular culture.

Earlier this week, Take-Two said its Grand Theft Auto IV criminal action game racked up more than $US500 million ($531 million) in global sales in its first week.

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photo: Coming soon ... a film based on the award-winning videogame Bioshock has been announced / 2K Games