Verbinski's "Bioshock" Halted by Universal

The latest Gore Verbinski-directed film, Bioshock, has been put on hold by Universal Pictures due to worries related to the film's budget.

The live-action adaptation of the bestselling Take-Two Interactive vidgame was in pre-production, but according to an article on Variety.com, "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."

The stage was set for filming to begin in Los Angeles but that changed when the movie's budget swelled to $160 million. Due to this, both Universal and Verbinski have been searching for alternate places to begin shooting, such as London, so costs could be lowered.

"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."

The film takes place in an underwater city called Rapture; a pilot crashes near a secret entrance to the city and then becomes involved in a power struggle.

The Variety.com article goes on to say just how important this film is to Verbinski, "Verbinski and sources at the studio say they are determined to make the pic. Indeed, Verbinski (who has also been directing the Paramount animated film 'Rango' with Johnny Depp) 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."

Although studio sources contend that the film's budget is too lofty, others argue that this situation isn't all that dissimilar from when the studio halted the start of the untitled Robin Hood picture that Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott are directing. Universal is making that film for $130 million, a much lower budget than the original figure. The reasons for the delay were reportedly the need for extra script work which allowed Crowe to star in State of Play instead of Brad Pitt.

Yet, the Variety.com articles strongly declares, "'Bioshock' will not become another 'Halo,' the live action adaptation of the Microsoft game that was going to be turned into a film by U and Fox until both studios got cold feet and cancelled the deal over budget fears."