The failure of the Watchman film at the box office led to the demise of the BioShock movie, it has been suggested by Ken Levine.
Speaking at a BAFTA Q&A for BioShock Infinite attended by Digital Spy, the game's creative director explained how the studio went "cold" on backing a big-budget R-rated film.
"There was a deal in place and it was in production at Universal, and Gore Verbinski was directing it," explained Levine.
IGN: "We spent six hours playing a recent build of Judas, the next game from BioShock creator Ken Levine, followed by a lengthy conversation with the renowned game designer to discuss the long wait since BioShock Infinite, bringing the "narrative LEGOs" concept to life in Judas, what the game is all about, and much more."
YT video : https://youtu.be/aIqmnoo8Ui...
with new gameplay segments
I’m tentatively hopeful for this. Love Bioshock. As far as the narrative Legos we shall have to wait and see. The early trailer for Infinite showed off a lot of stuff that didn’t make it into the finished product, and Levine is notoriously difficult to work for, so if this narrative stuff makes it into the came will be curious to see how impactful it is. I’d be fine with something more in the vein of the first Bioshock. Not much like that now, especially since Arkane’s fall from grace.
I didn’t realize Levine’s new studio was under 2K Games just like Irrational was. What was the point quitting Irrational and then 2K dissolving the studio only for him to open up a smaller studio still under 2K? Why not just downsize Irrational, keep operations going and have the brand recognition. Cuz it’s not like Judas is a departure from his normal style. Must be a story there
Cloud Chamber, under 2K, is the new studio developing the next Bioshock (4?) game.
I imagine he had a negative experience building Bioshock Infinite, due to the pressure on the team. As you pointed out in your other comment, lots from that game was cut out or changed before release. I suspect he wanted the opportunity to step back and create a game in a timescale that allowed him to deliver the product he wanted.
Irrational may have also been locked into certain contracts under 2K, and opening a new studio may have allowed him to negotiate new terms.
Hey Poor Player's James Davie Takes Us On A Bio-Shocking Deep Dive Into Irrational Games' Nautical Nightmare.
Gareth, Justin, and Michael at Skewed and Reviewed look at timely and topical entertainment news on their latest show including the latest video game movie and news of another in the works.
Watchman budget was 130m Box office 185m. Sure there have been movies with similar budget that went on to sell 2-3 times their budget but I wouldn't called Watchman a failure.
Movies like Red Dawn who box office didn't pass their budget would be deem as a failure, imho.
Bioshock film probably wouldn't perform well anyway. Very few video game based movies actually sells unless their target audience is aim at children(wreck it ralph).
o__O
As far as I know, Watchmen happened years before Bioshock even existed.
Does not compute...
It's Watchmen, not Watchman, and I doubt it's box office performance had anything to do with a Bioshock movie not being made.
*Watchmen
i liked Watchmen, i guess unless u make 100 million profit its all fail...