Filmmaker Gore Verbinski, who directed the three blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean films for Disney, has inked a three-year, first-look deal with Universal Pictures, according to Daily Variety. Working through his Universal-based Blind Wink Prods., the director/producer will first focus his energies on developing the previously announced feature film version of Take-Two Interactive’s hit video game Bioshock.
The Bioshock game puts the player in the role of the sole survivor of an ocean plane crash, who discovers an underwater city built in the 1930s. As the mystery unfolds, gamers discover that the submerged metropolis was the scene of horrific events brought about by science gone terribly wrong. Take-Two plans to release a sequel to the game sometime in 2009.
Screenwriter John Logan (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Aviator) is adapting the game for the screen. He and Verbinski are also reportedly collaborating on an unnamed animated feature. Verbinski’s other directing credits include The Ring, The Mexican and Mouse Hunt.
