Good news everyone, I have decided to open this article with a clever Futurama reference. Hilarious, I know. The real story though, is that Universal Pictures might have found a new director for the stalled BioShock film, pending approval by Take-Two.

Pirates of the Caribbean honcho Gore Verbinski was originally supposed to helm the game-to-film adaptation, but the project was halted after the budget swelled to the size of a cake-stuffed Fat Princess royal.  According to Variety’s Michael Fleming, Verbinski will still act as producer, with Juan Carlos Fresnadillo – director of 28 Weeks Later – possibly assuming directorial duties.

Despite some utter stinkers, I am a big supporter of game-to-film adaptations, as they provide non-gamers with a window into our realm, if only for a few hours. Box office bombs can breed ridicule, but I feel that it is important to show non-gamers that video games transcend Mario and sci-fi shooters. Interactive entertainment is a tremendous storytelling medium, and Hollywood provides a method to deliver game narratives to the masses.

As a fan of the Take-Two property, I have been following the BioShock film with great interest. 2K Boston crafted a masterful tale, and I would love to see it translated into a motion picture. Of course, Universal could always take the film in a different direction, but I would definitely cough up the cash to see Rapture on the big screen.

That’s THE big screen. I am not coming over to your house to watch you play BioShock on a massive television. Nice try.

Game-to-film adaptations might not have the best track record, but BioShock certainly provides better source material than the likes of Super Mario Bros., Double Dragon, Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. Given an adequate budget, a talented crew, and a proper development cycle, there would be no excuse for failure.

This news made my day, but what about you?

Source: Variety via IGN