Guillermo del Toro Calls His BioShock Movie Pitch Talks 'Disastrous'

Legendary horror director Guillermo del Toro has had his share of cinematic nightmares, but not all of them occurred on a film set. He recently recounted his attempts to pitch a BioShock movie as 'disastrous,' describing some of the most contentious calls of his career.

Speaking to IGN, del Toro confirmed that these unfortunate calls with game and studio executives left a sour taste when it came to adapting games for film. He noted that the transition from interactive worlds to cinematic narratives isn't as straightforward as one might hope.

"You know, I tried. We had a very contentious call about a couple of games," del Toro told IGN. The fundamental differences between games and films made these discussions particularly frustrating, including a phone call about BioShock that was one of the most challenging of his career. He elaborated, "They are two of-probably one of the most disastrous calls I’ve ever had. Uh... so no, I’m done."

Despite this, a BioShock adaptation is still afloat. Netflix announced a partnership with 2K in 2022. However, at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, producer Roy Lee disclosed that financial constraints necessitated a pivot towards a more modest production with an intimate focus.

The details

• Platform: Netflix
• Development Status: In development (announced in 2022)
• Creative Direction: A scaled-back, "more personal" story due to 2024 budget cuts
• Original Game IP: BioShock (2K Games)

While del Toro has moved away from game adaptations, his interest in gaming hasn't waned. Ironically, rather than immersing himself in horror, he spends his downtime battling green pigs in Angry Birds, a habit he pursues with unexpected fervor.