Gore Verbinski's BioShock Movie Would Have Somehow Included Both of the Game's Endings

Gore Verbinski, known for directing the Pirates of the Caribbean series, recently shared insights about his unrealized film adaptation of BioShock. He expressed that the movie would have uniquely featured both endings of the original video game to keep audiences guessing. Back in 2008, Verbinski was set to collaborate with Universal Studios on the project, with a script penned by acclaimed writers John Logan, who is known for Gladiator and Skyfall. Unfortunately, the film was never produced due to protracted negotiations regarding its substantial budget of $200 million, which was viewed as a gamble, especially given the intended R rating for mature audiences. Verbinski has indicated that the film was merely eight weeks away from commencing production before it ultimately fell apart. Despite efforts to revive the project over subsequent years, BioShock's creator, Ken Levine, confirmed by 2013 that the film was officially canceled. Reflecting on the project during a Reddit Q&A session, Verbinski shared his enthusiasm, stating, "I loved this project when we were getting close to making it at Universal. I was eager to delve into the Oedipal themes and maintain a hard R rating, particularly concerning the Little Sisters and the protagonist's choices and their ramifications." He elaborated, "I had devised a method with writer John Logan to incorporate both endings, and I was excited about the prospect of really messing with people’s minds. We had some fantastic designs for the Big Daddies and the entire twisted art-deco aesthetic of the underwater world. Every year, I hear something about the project, but I'm uncertain if any studio is ready to venture where I intended to go." In the original BioShock game, players encounter two distinct endings based on their decisions regarding the Little Sisters—either rescuing or harvesting them. The outcome of a merciful approach yields a more uplifting conclusion, where the protagonist enjoys a fulfilling life with the sisters at his deathbed. Conversely, harvesting leads to a bleak ending where the character perpetuates a power-hungry ideology among Rapture's inhabitants, culminating in a foreboding scene hinting at a nuclear submarine takeover. The contrast between these endings is stark, presenting either a joyful existence or a looming catastrophe. It remains uncertain how Verbinski would have depicted both conclusions. Would one serve as a dream sequence, illustrating an alternate reality? Or might the film have presented two divergent futures, leaving the audience to question which one was real? While the later installment, BioShock Infinite, explores multiverse concepts, that idea had not yet surfaced during Verbinski's involvement. Nonetheless, it raises intriguing possibilities about how an adaptation could have approached the game's dual endings. Currently, Netflix is working on a new BioShock adaptation, having announced plans for it in 2022. However, the project stalled in recent years due to changes in direction that affected the script. In September 2025, producer Roy Lee confirmed that the film is still actively in development, with director Francis Lawrence set to helm the project after completing his work on the upcoming Hunger Games film. Lawrence commented on the challenges of adapting BioShock, stating, "It’s a complex project, and there are many elements to address and perfect. The changes in Netflix's management have caused some delays, but I believe we are making good progress." On the gaming front, 2K revealed last summer that BioShock 4 is undergoing significant development changes after a lengthy period in the works. Amid staffing changes and further delays, Rod Fergusson, previously associated with Gears of War and the Diablo franchise, has taken the reins of the project and will lead the development studio Cloud Chamber as they strive to bring the game to completion.