Grave Gamer News & Views — universal studios

Universal Begins Production on Bioshock Infinite: The Movie

Though a feature length film adaptation of Irrational Games’ original Bioshock failed to gain traction and move past the fires of development hell, it would appear rights holder Universal Studios is looking to the sky for another run at bringing the critically acclaimed IP to the silver screen.

Greenlit on the back of a spec script written by Jeremy Leven (The Notebook, The Time Traveler’s Wife) in conjunction with genre scribe Damon Lindelof (Lost, Prometheus), Universal is fast tracking a film loosely based upon 2013’s stalwart gaming experience, Bioshock Infinite.

While several key plot elements from the game remain in place – a man, a lighthouse, a floating city – Universal’s hurried excitement to reimagine Infinite for the big screen stems from the biggest narrative change found in Leven and Lindelof’s script: protagonists Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth Comstock are “wayward lovers in their mid to late twenties” attempting to reunite in the midst of a civil war waged on the streets of Columbia, a city segregated from the U.S. by clouds.

Booker fights alongside a rebellion of lower class citizens, the Vox Populi, while Elizabeth is the heiress to the ruling, and wealthy, Comstock family. The game’s religious overtones, Comstock’s cult in particular, are apparently being toned down purposely to service a wider palette, traded in for the classic struggle between the rich and the poor.

“It’s sort of a high concept, genre take on Romeo and Juliet,” said Lindelof. "Jeremy [Leven] has proven time and again he knows how to write fully fleshed out characters. I mean, characterization is his thing obviously. I came aboard because I wanted to realize the world of Columbia and play with the really lofty, cool concepts Irrational laid down, like multi-dimensional traversal and gigantic steampunk birdman things.“

"It’s been great working on this project with Damon,” said Leven. “We really complement each other’s strengths well, I think. I’m the go-to guy for drama and romance and such, while Damon’s your man when it’s time to maul a dude’s face with a skyhook.”

Hollywood hunk Ryan Gosling and Tinseltown sweetheart Rachel McAdams are said to be in negotiations to play the roles of star-crossed lovers Booker and Elizabeth respectively. “I’ve never heard of Bioshock, haven’t played a video game since Mario [laughs], but I immediately fell in love with the script,” Gosling said. “It’s really heady, really out there. And the love these two characters have for one another… It’s a bond stronger than blood.”

Universal currently has a short list of directors favored to helm the picture including Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class, Kick Ass), Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Children of Men), and Francis Lawrence (Constantine, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire). Ken Levine, series creator and former head of the now disbanded Irrational, has confirmed he will be serving in an executive producing capacity. When asked how extensive his involvement would be, Levine replied, “I receive a paycheck and commence loud, hearty laughter on my way to the bank.”

UPDATE: April 2nd is here, folks. Thanks to all who believed my fabricated bullshit; you truly made April Fools’ a special day for me.

Concept Art for Abandoned Bioshock Movie Hits the Web 

Here lies what could have been. It really wasn’t too long ago that Hollywood, wishing to ride the success of Irrational’s intellectual shooter, was spinning the wheels on a full feature Bioshock film.

The silver screen adaptation was being backed by Universal Studios with Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski helming ship; all under the watchful eye of series mastermind Ken Levine. Originally supported by a $200 million dollar budget and Verbinski’s intent on making a “hard-rated,” rated R film, Bioshock seemed set to reign in a new era of video game film – one in which we wouldn’t be privy to two hours of cringe culling shit.

But like Halo before it, Universal was uncomfortable shilling out that much cash for both an R-rated film and a video game adaptation. Levine suspected the then-recent box office disappointment of the very expensive and very R-rated Watchmen led to Universal slashing Bioshock’s budget down to $80 million. “The studio got cold feet about making an R-rated $200 million film,” said Levine.

Soon after, development hell crept up on the project. Gore Verbinski, unhappy with the lowered budget, departed. A new director was chosen but Levine says he just didn’t fit. Take Two, Bioshock’s rights holders, went to Ken for the final say on the film. “They said to me, ‘if you want to kill it Ken, kill it.’ And I killed it.”

What remains of the film’s pre-production includes conceptual artist Jim Martin’s designs. You can view his entire gallery of work he laid out for the film here which features areas of Rapture never explored in the game. If Martin’s renderings are any indication, the film looked to faithfully recreate Irrational Games’ dystopia beneath the sea. Oh, what could’ve been.

That’s the front of the RPD building.

No, you’re not hearing me. THAT’S THE FRONT OF THE RPD BUILDING.

Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights is bringing Resident Evil to life like the T-Virus reanimates a corpse. The attraction serves as an eerie snapshot of Raccoon City before a thermonuclear missile turned Umbrella’s favorite little sleepy town into a smoking crater back in ‘98. Much too much awesome. I can’t– I can’t see through this awesome.

Read more about Escape From Raccoon City hereabouts. Get your tickets here.

Resident Evil Joins Universal’s 23rd Halloween Horror Nights

If you’re like me and a) Live in Orlando and b) Are goddamn nutso about Resident Evil, then the S.T.A.R.S. have truly aligned for you, friend (Christ, one more pun like that and my blogging privileges will be revoked for good; and I won’t even raise an argument).

Universal Orlando’s annual Halloween Horror Nights has chosen its final spook-house for this year’s event – Resident Evil: Escape From Raccoon CIty.  Rather than filling a space with Milla Jovovich imitators wrapped in spandex, this attraction is a full-on collaboration between Universal and Capcom, drawing direct inspiration from the long standing horror games.

As such, visitors will be attacked (and killed) by an assortment of flesh-motivated zombies, undead canines (or Cereberus’ if you want a high-five from me), and razor-tongued lickers.  Fight through Raccoon City long enough without soiling your skinnies like a Chickenheart and even the Nemesis will rip his way out of your nightmares for a guest cameo.

Michael Aiello, the creative director who’s orchestrated this year’s shrieking madness, says Resident Evil fits the festivities like a square crank in a square hole. “We were able to create incredibly elaborate sets that plant you right in the midst of Raccoon City’s apocalyptic nightmare, along with terrifying adversaries that will send them running.”

Capcom’s isn’t the only zombie teeming universe represented this year, either.  Look (out) for scare-shacks based on AMC’s The Walking Dead (which takes you from Woodbury to the fabled prison), Joss Whedon’s The Cabin in the Woods (ghoulies galore here including, hopefully, the zombie redneck torture family), and the freshly cut Evil Dead (hail to the rebooted king, baby).

Halloween Horror Nights 23, held at the Universal Orlando Resort, kicks off September 20th and runs all the way until November 2nd (on select nights, of course).  Get you some tickets hereabouts.

Stills from the Resident Evil attraction opening up at Universal Studios Japan on September 14th.  Interesting, not a dumb pun in sight.  Suck on that, Resident Evil 6 Flags Night.