'BioShock' Movie Update: Francis Lawrence Says Netflix's Adaptation Is Getting Close, but Rapture Is Still a Tough Nut to Crack

Video game adaptations have had a strong run in recent years, with franchises that once seemed unfilmable making their way to screens big and small. ‘BioShock‘ has been one of the great holdouts. The 2007 game’s underwater dystopia has been a dream project for fans for nearly two decades, and Hollywood has had trouble turning it into a movie.

Universal acquired the rights back in May 2008 but never produced a film. Netflix revived the idea in 2022, announcing a partnership with 2K and Take-Two Interactive and bringing on director Francis Lawrence, best known for ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ and ‘I Am Legend’. Michael Green, who co-wrote ‘Logan’ and ‘Blade Runner 2049’, was set to write the screenplay.

Four years later, there are still no cameras rolling, which has led fans to wonder whether Rapture is simply unfilmable. Now Lawrence has offered a fresh status check. Speaking to The Direct while promoting ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’, he said the project is moving forward and that they are getting close, while also calling it a tough nut to crack.

The core problem, according to Lawrence, is the player. In ‘BioShock’, you are the character, which means the movie has to create a protagonist from scratch for a world he describes as wildly strange in the most amazing way. The 2007 game centered on Jack, a silent protagonist who survives a plane crash over the Atlantic Ocean and discovers the decaying underwater city of Rapture, overrun by deformed madmen known as Splicers.

Adapting that setup for a traditional narrative means giving the lead a distinct voice while preserving the twists and horror atmosphere. Lawrence’s comments suggest the film will need to build its main character in a way the game never did. Reports also note that the scale and tone of the world complicate things, and that the game’s creator wants key themes protected.

Producer Roy Lee has said the movie will be based on the first game rather than its sequels. That keeps the focus on the original story that made the franchise famous. It also leaves open how much of the game’s iconic imagery, including Big Daddies and Little Sisters, will appear.

Lawrence also pointed to a different kind of obstacle: the streamer itself. He referenced regime changes at Netflix and what he called the Netflix of it all, adding that it is the kind of thing he would rather not have to deal with. That suggests leadership shake-ups may need to settle before the film gets a budget and greenlight.

The project has already been reshaped once. In July 2024, Lee and Lawrence said the budget had been scaled down to make a more personal and atmospheric film rather than a sprawling $200 million blockbuster. A new script draft arrived in May 2025, and an update in early 2026 described the script as being in a very strong place, with filming not expected to begin until at least early 2027.

Timing is the other question. Lee previously said the movie was just waiting for Lawrence to finish his work on ‘The Hunger Games’, a condition met when ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ hits theaters on November 20. But when asked whether ‘BioShock’ would be his next project, Lawrence said you never know.

He described a horse race dynamic in development, where the script, the availability of actors and production realities all have to line up. Lawrence has also signed on to direct an adaptation of Pierce Brown’s novel ‘Red Rising’ for Paramount, alongside his writing partner Justin Rhodes, who also worked on ‘BioShock’. That means two big projects may compete for the same window.

Even so, Lawrence has been clear about his enthusiasm. He said he would love nothing more than to make the movie and that he is definitely active in it. For a director who has been attached for years, that is an encouraging tone.

For now, no cast, filming date or release window has been announced. Fans will have to wait for official word on whether the film clears its remaining hurdles. A greenlight would be the first major sign that the project is moving from development to production.

The update still counts as a modest win. After years of silence, hearing that the director is active and that the team is getting close is better than another delay. The streaming landscape is changing quickly, though, and ‘BioShock’ has outlasted many setbacks already.