BioShock is one of the most celebrated games of the 21st century due to its phenomenal storytelling, and as it could make for a great sci-fi horror movie, Netflix is developing exactly that. Though Netflix doesn't have the best track record when it comes to its original movies, BioShock is such a rich franchise full of through-provoking philosophical concepts that it could be great.
However, fans of the video game series are highly protective of it, and yet another cheap-looking video game movie that isn't faithful to the source material is the last thing they want. Between telling the origin of Rapture, making Elizabeth the main character, and forgoing the main narratives for the DLC storylines, Redditors have a long list of demands.
Make BioShock A Prequel
There's so much history to the city of Rapture, and many would argue that the events leading up to when BioShock takes place are way more interesting than the game's premise. That's why Whatsinthesocks thinks it would be better if the movie was a prequel to the video game.
The Redditor explains, "Make it about Rapture before the game begins. Let's see Rapture and its downfall. Putting games on the silver screen never works." The tie-in novel, BioShock: Rapture, details the creation of Rapture and the Civil War in the city that led to its destruction, so there's already material and lore that a prequel could be based on.
Guillermo Del Toro Should Direct BioShock
A ton of directors could make a great BioShock movie, but Vincent_adultman98 thinks the project needs an auteur's vision. The Redditor posits, "Guillermo Del Toro is the only person I would really trust with a Bishop movie. Anyone else and I'm either gonna be worried that they've never done a big-budget movie or that it'll be too cookie cutter." The director has already shown how well he can shoot underwater sequences full of practical effects with both The Shape of Water and Hellboy. Del Toro is great at creating eerie atmospheres too, which is something that makes the BioShock game so interesting.
Del Toro seemingly has a decent relationship with Netflix, as he directed the upcoming stop-motion Pinocchio, which is an exclusive for the streaming service, so it isn't the unlikeliest possibility when it comes to choices for directors. Unfortunately, hopes that the Hellboy director helming the film are lost, as Francis Lawrence has been announced as director. However, Gore Verbinski was attached to direct before him, and that fell through.
BioShock's Set Designs Need To Be Special
Pauliewotsit thinks that the sets and locations are of major importance when it comes to the video game movie. The Redditor notes, "I'm just looking forward to seeing the set designs." Unfortunately, most sets aren't practical anymore. If a movie takes place in a fantastical location, it's usually shot on a soundstage in front of a green screen, as that's more cost-effective.
However, with a visionary director like del Toro behind the camera, the film would absolutely have incredible production value. They'd make Rapture look like a cross between the Titanic Grand Dining Room and a dystopian future like Mad Max, which is exactly the approach Netflix should take.
BioShock Should Feature Other Cities
Pearlsgalore thinks the movie should delve into the story of the video game threequel, BioShock: Infinite. The video game's setting is almost the opposite of the first two games, as it takes place in a city in the sky as opposed to underwater. The ending reveals that there are tons of these fantastical cities in many different realities, and the Redditor thinks the movie should explore that concept.
The user notes, "If it's just a movie, I don't see how it can only be one. It needs to be at least two or three with how long the story is and also the other cities." If Netflix was to explore Infinite, it would absolutely have to be in a sequel. There are many examples of studios trying to cram so much into one movie only for it to fail, such as The Dark Tower, so it'd be better if Netflix simply adapted one movie at a time.
Focus On BioShock: Infinite's Characters
Larini_vjetrovi doesn't think there has to be any lead-up to Infinite whatsoever and that the adaptation should focus on the threequel characters instead of Jack in the original game. The Redditor pitches, "The third one would be great to adapt since we have two great characters who are constantly together."
In fairness, Jack is actually an incredibly dull character, especially compared to Infinite's Booker and Elizabeth, part of one of the best escort quests in video game history. The two have great chemistry, unique personalities, and they both stand to gain something from the adventure, which would make for such an engaging movie. However, the final act of Infinite wouldn't be half as effective without the first BioShock.
Melissa Collazo Should Play Elizabeth
Not many Redditors have considered who would be cast as Jack, Booker, or any of the other characters from the video games. However, ScarOnTheCity has a specific actor in mind to play Elizabeth if Netflix does adapt the third game.
The Redditor wants to see Melissa Collazo in the role, noting, "Melissa Collazo I feel would make a great Elizabeth - I’m specifically thinking of her in One Of Us Is Lying, I think the prom episode where her hair is finger waved and short. Her aesthetic and features were giving me a modern-day Elizabeth." Collazo certainly looks the part, and she has the dramatic range to play the character when she is innocent at the beginning of the game and when secrets are revealed about her midway through.
BioShock Should Be Based On Buried Sea
As there's so much story to unpack when it comes to developing the movie adaptation, Treythelunchtray thinks that the film shouldn't be based on any of the three games, but on Infinite's downloadable content. BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea is a two-part expansion pack to the threequel that blends together elements from each of the games, creating an odd alternate reality.
The Redditor posits, "What if it went for like the plot of Buried at Sea? The backdrop of the Bioshock movie I think would make for a great film." The game is based on 1940s noir movies, as it features Booker as a detective and Elizabeth as a femme fatale, and it takes place in Rapture before the events of the first game. While it's an interesting concept, it'd be a hard concept for non-gamers to grasp.
BioShock Should Be Disturbing
Darthabler points to the fact that BioShock is actually an extremely frightening game, and it's one that's full of jump scares too. Players forget that, as Infinite wasn't anywhere near as terrifying. But the Redditor thinks that the disturbing elements of the original should be faithfully adapted, noting, "I would love to see someone like Alex Garland direct it. Does well with disturbing settings and more subtle/philosophical subject matters."
The filmmaker is known for Ex-Machina, Annihilation, and Men, so given his filmography of chilling releases, he could nail the atmosphere of BioShock too. And as Firewatch is in the same universe as BioShock, the film could crossover with the sci-fi horror to double down on the chill factor.
It Should Be Similar To The Lighthouse
This user thinks that the Netflix movie should be influenced by the 2019 black-and-white psychological horror The Lighthouse, which is about two lighthouse keepers who slowly lose their minds. The Redditor explains, "If the people behind Lighthouse or people similar did it, I'd be way more hype because I was seeing like black and white pictures of fan casting options."
The Redditor is most likely making the connection because lighthouses are an important element in the BioShock games. It's where games first meet Jack in BioShock, and the concept of the lighthouse is what leads to the shocking twist ending of Infinite. However, a Robert Eggers-directed BioShock movie could be the most unique blockbuster movie ever made.
BioShock Should Be About Minerva's Den
Just like Buried at Sea, Minerva's Den isn't part of the main games but is DLC. Minerva's Den is an expansion of BioShock 2, which doesn't get mentioned as much as the original and third games. However, while the follow-up is more of a continuation of the first game than the epic sequel that is Infinite, Minerva's Den is a fascinating story in its own right, and Neohx_7 thinks it should be the basis for the movie.
The Redditor notes, "I think an adaptation of Minerva’s Den would be interesting as a self-contained story that wouldn’t need to be bogged down with the expectations of telling a story about Ryan, Tennenbaum, Suchong, Fountaine, etc." The game is about a man who wants to recreate Rapture on the surface, and it's surprisingly emotional and morbid for a video game, let alone DLC, and it'd make for a great Cronenberg-esque Shakespearean tragedy.