Overview
- Director Alex Garland shows strong interest in adapting ‘Bioshock’ or ‘Doom’ for the big screen.
- The journey of ‘Bioshock’s adaptation has been rocky, shifting from Verbinski’s vision to Netflix’s upcoming project.
- Attempts to adapt ‘Doom’ have struggled to connect with fans, with no recent developments in film or television adaptations.
With a surge of successful video game adaptations rejuvenating interest in the genre, both gamers and filmmakers are eager for the right properties to receive the quality treatment they deserve. Among the most passionate supporters advocating for well-executed adaptations are fans of Bioshock and Doom, who have made their enthusiasm abundantly clear.
Notably, director Alex Garland—renowned for his works like Annihilation and the acclaimed 28 Days Later—is among those expressing interest. During a recent Reddit AMA aimed at promoting his latest film, Warfare, Garland highlighted that both “Bioshock and Doom are long overdue for proper adaptations.”
The Current Status of the Bioshock Adaptation
The development of a Bioshock adaptation has been fraught with complexities and delays. The film’s earliest origins trace back to 2008 when Gore Verbinski, famed for directing the Pirates of the Caribbean series, was initially attached to helm the project. Unfortunately, his vision unraveled along with a tumultuous development phase, resulting in his departure and the subsequent involvement of Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.
As the project floundered, it was ultimately canceled, with Ken Levine, the game’s creator, citing budgetary and content rating disputes as critical factors for the demise. In 2017, filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro remarked that Verbinski would have been ideal for such an adaptation, expressing his own desire to see the narrative brought to life.
Fast forward to 2022, Netflix announced plans to produce a Bioshock film in partnership with 2K Interactive, with notable figures such as writer Michael Green (known for Blade Runner 2049) and director Francis Lawrence (of The Hunger Games fame) at the helm. The latest statements from Lawrence, made in February, indicate that he remains involved, though recent leadership changes at Netflix suggest a smaller budget and a more intimate perspective for the project. Questions linger about whether the adaptation will explore the iconic underwater city of Rapture or the floating city of Colombia, the latter introduced in Bioshock: Infinite.
With the franchise having remained largely dormant since 2016’s Bioshock: The Collection, this long-awaited adaptation possesses substantial potential to reignite interest in a beloved series, especially as a new mainline game is under development.
The Legacy of Doom Adaptations
Garland’s second choice, Doom, has seen its share of cinematic ventures, but unfortunately, past adaptations have mostly disappointed fans. The 2005 film, featuring Dwayne Johnson, was criticized for straying far from the source material, resulting in poor box office performance and a lackluster 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While some redeeming qualities, such as its first-person action sequences and Karl Urban’s portrayal, were noted, it fell short of capturing the essence of Doom.
The following film, Doom: Annihilation, which debuted in 2019, experienced a similarly disappointing fate. Released directly to video, it garnered under $100,000 in revenue against its $5 million budget, managing a mere 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A related TV series was announced in conjunction with the film, yet updates on this project have ceased, further compounding fans’ frustrations.
Given the recent success of the Doom gaming series, particularly with the highly regarded Doom (2016) and its sequel, Doom Eternal, many fans believe a modern adaptation could do justice to the franchise. However, game developers have confirmed their exclusion from previous adaptation discussions, raising concerns about the creative direction.
Will Alex Garland Join the Video Game Adaptation Ranks?
Garland’s connection to the gaming world runs deep. He previously contributed as a writer for titles like DMC: Devil May Cry and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. During the same Q&A session, he mentioned his current obsession with Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, suggesting that his enthusiasm for gaming remains vibrant. Many fans expressed excitement at the prospect of a Garland-directed Bioshock film, with one enthusiastic comment stating, “An Alex Garland Bioshock movie would be incredible.”
However, with Garland managing a busy production schedule in the upcoming years, it appears that he will not take up the challenge of directing his own interpretations of Bioshock or Doom in the immediate future. Given the prolonged timeline of the Bioshock project, it is plausible that it will still be in development when Garland’s own creative endeavors come to fruition, leaving fans hopeful for a fitting adaptation that honors the iconic series.