New Netflix adaptation of the ‘Bioshock’ video games is facing budget cuts, according to Roy Lee’s recent appearance at San Diego Comic-Con. The project initially started with a potential to be a cinematic universe directed by Francis Lawrence. Lee said:
“The new regime has lowered the budgets. So, we’re doing a much smaller version. … It’s going to be a more personal point of view, as opposed to a grander, big project.”
Netflix announced teaming up with the game’s producers, 2K and Take-Two Interactive, in February 2022. Leadership at the streamer has changed since then.
Dan Lin replaced Scott Stuber as the head of film operations and started pushing for a more conservative approach to funding new projects.
The Producer Renewed Contract Based On New Policy
Roy Lee also delved into the new payment model by describing it as similar to traditional movie bonuses based on viewer numbers and revealed signing a new contract based on it:
“They’re changing it to be a metric similar to box office bonuses. It’s a chart: It’s this amount of viewers, you get this amount of compensation in terms of increased back end. It motivates the producers to actually do a movie that gets a bigger audience.”
The first ‘Bioshock’ game came out in 2007. It took place in an underwater city meant to be a utopia that instead fell into ruin and violence. The game became popular for its story and philosophical themes.
The success of the original game led to two sequels, released in 2010 and 2013. The series has sold over 39 million copies worldwide.
