Bioshock on Hold

According to Variety, "Universal Pictures has put the brakes on 'Bioshock,' the Gore Verbinski-directed live action adaptation of the bestselling Take-Two Interactive video game. The picture was in pre-production, but the studio has halted that effort--and let some production staff go--as Universal and Verbinski figure out a way to make the film at a more reasonable budget.

Sources said that the John Logan-scripted picture was gearing up to shoot in Los Angeles, but that changed when the budget rose to the vicinity of $160 million. Universal and Verbinski are looking at alternatives like shooting in London as a way to pare costs. The plotline takes place in the underwater city Rapture, where a pilot crash-lands near a secret entrance and becomes involved in a power struggle.

'We were asked by Universal to move the film outside the U.S. to take advantage of a tax credit,' Verbinski said. 'We are evaluating whether this is something we want to do. In the meantime, the film is in a holding pattern.'

Verbinski and sources at the studio say they are determined to make the pic. Indeed, Verbinski bowed out of directing a fourth installment of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' so that he could direct 'Bioshock' and produce under his Blind Wink banner.

All parties vow that 'Bioshock' will not become another 'Halo,' the live action adaptation of the Microsoft game that was going to be turned into a film by Universal and Fox until both studios got cold feet and canceled the deal over budget fears."

Universal should have really expected this since Verbinski made the most expensive film ever made.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" had an estimated budget of $300 million. Now that is a lot of money.

Maybe this film will get back on track once they figure out some cheaper ways to make it. Man...I really want to see a "Halo" film too.

More news to come! Catch ya' later!