PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN - SPIRALLING BUDGET PUTS BIOSHOCK ADAPTATION ON HOLD

SPIRALLING BUDGET PUTS BIOSHOCK ADAPTATION ON HOLD

A film adaptation of the hit videogame Bioshock, from Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski, has been postponed.

The budget of Universal and 2K Games' big screen adaptation of BioShock, announced last May, has reportedly grown so large that production of the film has been put on hold until cost concessions have been made.

Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski recently said that he would not return for Johnny Depp's fourth pirate film, explaining that he preferred to concentrate on the BioShock film adaptation. Gladiator and Sweeney Todd screenwriter John Logan was to be responsible for the film's script.

However, Universal and Verbinski are still keen to produce the film and are currently looking at ways to reduce costs. Variety reports that the Verbinski film was set to be filmed in Los Angeles, but that changed when the budget grew to around $160 million.

"We were asked by Universal to move the film outside the US to take advantage of a tax credit," Verbinski told Variety.

"We are evaluating whether this is something we want to do. In the meantime, the film is in a holding pattern."

However, a Universal Pictures spokesperson made it clear to video game blog Kotaku that the film is still very much alive and will remain in extended pre-production so they can "take a look at possible alternate shooting locations, available tax credits, foreign exchange rates and other elements that might help us make the film at a responsible budget."

"No plug has been pulled on BioShock," the Universal representative told Kotaku.

"Universal remains committed to making the project and Gore absolutely remains attached as director."