Gore Verbinski's New Film Still on Financial Hold

Gore Verbinski, director of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, is set to direct the live-action retelling of the popular video game, BioShock, for Universal Studios. But the company has stopped production and has asked him to find a way to film the movie for less money. The company also recently let workers go, according to Variety magazine.

The budget continued to rise when Universal and Verbinski were planning on beginning the production in Los Angeles. The budget became $160 million and forced Verbinski to look elsewhere for a cheaper venue, such as London, where tax credits are available.

As of now, BioShock is completely on hold. The original video game takes place solely in an underwater city, forcing special effects to be costly. Verbinski is still reportedly going to work on making the film, according to Variety. He turned down the fourth "Pirates" installment to focus on this film.

Everyone involved is likening this delay to a similar one that Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood" adaptation went through due to script rewrites. The hiatus gave the film's star, Russell Crowe, a chance to star in other projects and the film is now back on schedule with a smaller budget.