Netflix’s Live-Action BIOSHOCK Movie Will Adapt the First Game, Producer Confirms

A film adaptation of BioShock has been in development at Netflix for years, and we’re now learning that it won’t stray far from what made the game a classic. Producer Roy Lee has confirmed that the adaptation will stick directly to the first BioShock game, rather than creating a new storyline.

The project has some heavy-hitting talent behind it with Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games) set to direct and Michael Green (Logan) handling the screenplay. While much of the production remains under wraps, this news alone should reassure fans who have been waiting to see Rapture, the iconic underwater city, brought to life in live action.

In an interview with The Direct, Lee revealed that this will be Lawrence’s next big project once he’s finished with the upcoming Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping.

“It’s definitely going to be based on the first BioShock game,” Lee confirmed, adding that the script is still undergoing refinement.

Development had to hit pause while Lawrence completed The Long Walk and moved into production on Sunrise on the Reaping, which is currently shooting in Spain for a November 2026 release. That puts BioShock on deck right after Lawrence wraps up his dystopian duties.

Netflix first announced the movie in 2022, but updates have been scarce, leaving fans unsure if it would ever escape development hell. Earlier this year, Lawrence himself described the adaptation as “tricky” but said the project was finally in “a good place.”

One of the biggest challenges ahead will be recreating the atmosphere of Rapture. In a video game, the city is digital art and player imagination fills in the gaps. On film, it has to feel tangible and immersive, with all the flickering neon signs, leaking pipes, and terrifying Big Daddies intact.

That said, recent successes like The Last of Us and Twisted Metal prove that once-impossible game worlds can thrive in live action. If studios can make fungal nightmares and post-apocalyptic car battles believable, a decaying underwater utopia should be within reach.

The original BioShock launched in 2007 and is still regarded as one of the greatest narrative-driven games of all time. Its story of Jack, a lone survivor stranded at sea who stumbles into Rapture’s crumbling dream, left a lasting impact on gaming and storytelling alike.

Casting and release details haven’t been announced yet, but Netflix is set to distribute the film globally. With Lawrence riding high from The Long Walk and Green’s proven writing resume, this could end up being a solid adaptation.

If the creative team can capture Rapture’s oppressive mood and the menacing whir of a Big Daddy’s drill then fans may finally get the BioShock movie they’ve been hoping for.