Tue, Feb 15, 2011 | 15:53 GMT
Verbinski: BioShock film deal fell apart due to R rating
Director Gore Verbinski has said the reason the BioShock movie deal feel through was due to the fact it was going to be an R-rated film instead of PG-13.
Speaking with ComingSoon, Verbinksi said the R rating suited the film more due to the subject matter of the game.
“I couldn’t really get past anybody that would spend the money that it would take to do it and keep an R rating,” said Verbinski. “Alternately, I wasn’t really interested in pursuing a PG-13 version. Because the R rating is inherent. Little Sisters and injections and the whole thing. I just wanted to really, really make it a movie where, four days later, you’re still shivering and going, ‘Jesus Christ!’… It’s a movie that has to be really, really scary, but you also have to create a whole underwater world, so the pricetag is high.
“We just didn’t have any takers on an R-rated movie with that pricetag.”
Verbinski said making the BioShock film come to life in 3D would have been a positive move as well, as some movies are more immersive with the addition of the tech.
“[Bioshock] would be a great movie to do in 3D,” he said. “I’d like to go into that world wearing a pair of glasses. I think in general, gaming is perfect for 3D. Anything where you’re the protagonist. The kid in ‘The Shining’ on the big wheel, going around corridors. That’s what 3D is perfect for. To make people feel on-edge.”
Last summer, the director said things were slowing down a bit on the movie as he didn’t “want to dumb it down,” and that the budget was becoming a concern.
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Posted in: Action, Development, Movies
Tags: bioshock, bioshock movie, Gore Verbinski
15 comments
#1
Khakimzhan
15/02/11, 3:55 pm
Well, WB was really supportive to Snyder’s R-rated movies (all of his movies R-rated)
#2
YoungZer0
15/02/11, 4:02 pm
Yeah, but after the failure called „Watchmen” i doubt they are going to risk it again.
#3
StolenGlory
15/02/11, 4:03 pm
@2
Watchmen was a commerical failure for sure.
Not a critical one though – at least IMO.
#4
Gekidami
15/02/11, 4:06 pm
^ 56 on Metacritics. I wouldnt say thats a ‘critical failure’ but we’re from from a success too…
#5
StolenGlory
15/02/11, 4:07 pm
Was that for the uncut version out of interest?
#6
Gekidami
15/02/11, 4:09 pm
The cinematic release i assume. “Complete Experience” has 59.
#7
Detale
15/02/11, 4:11 pm
Snyder’s new movie Sucker Punch looks as though it’s going to be R-rated, but they’re probably letting him do that to get all the blood and guts out of his system before he does Superman.
#8
StolenGlory
15/02/11, 4:11 pm
@4
Just reading those reviews – and it is truly amazing just how many of them aren’t familiar with the original source material and yet use such clumsy comparisons as Batman & Robin and so on…
Good lord.
#9
StolenGlory
15/02/11, 4:13 pm
@4 They are talking about how the film lampoons others with themes of vengeance and so forth, when the original source material was created in the 80′s.
#10
Gekidami
15/02/11, 4:26 pm
Sounds like Verbinksi was pretty dedicated to the movie, going after that R-rating to the point where he drops it when he couldnt get it.
Problem is i doubt he owned the rights to it himself. So the studio can very easily hand the job over to another director who will make a PG-13 movie.
#11
Hunam
15/02/11, 4:45 pm
I don’t think it’s as simple as that. If the IP was licensed to the film company with the stipulation that Verbinski had to be involved then it’ll just go nowhere.
#12
spiderLAW
15/02/11, 4:55 pm
@8
I read the source material. I saw the movie. The movie was garbage. I’ve been reading comics since I was 3 (1989) (yes, i knew how to read then and have been able to since I was 2yrs old. I was already speaking full sentences at 5mnths old) and Watchmen was one of my favorites. The movie sucked balls.
#13
DSB
15/02/11, 6:37 pm
Another case of ratings shutting down a creative project. It doesn’t really matter who chooses to enforce them, it’s still censorship in anything but name.
@Geki – You want Rotten Tomatoes, not Metacritic for movie ratings in my experience, but I don’t think it’s above 60% there either.
Which I don’t get, I thought it was amazing, and I felt there were a bit too many comparing it to the comic. Personally I loved it.
#14
mathare92
15/02/11, 6:46 pm
Loved the look of the film (Watchmen). Unfortunately, that’s about the only thing I liked about it.
Also agree with DSB, Rotten Tomatoes > Metacritc when it comes to films.
#15
The_Red
15/02/11, 8:10 pm
No, it failed apart because it had a chance to be good. I mean, Hollywood suits can’t let the filmmakers do that. Movies based on games HAVE to be made by asshole directors who have never played the game and have no idea what’s it about. Like the Uncharted’s Russel.