Looks like the BioShock movie is turning out to be a totally high-budget one - or over-the-budget, as it turns out. Universal Pictures has stepped on the brakes on the production of the said movie adaptation of Take-Two Interactive's best-selling game, as the company tries to reach an agreement with director Gore Verbinski for a more reasonable budget.

  
Big Daddy LIVE!

In fact, the studio has already let some of the staff go, to try to cut back on the budget that shot up to US$ 160million. Hold it right there, they said. Now the supposed LA shoot has been cancelled, and the team is now looking for other alternatives, such as going to London instead. At this point I'd have to ask: how is that cheaper?

Verbinski answers that question:

We were asked by Universal to move the film outside the U.S. to take advantage of a tax credit. We are evaluating whether this is something we want to do. In the meantime, the film is in a holding pattern.

Don't worry, though. The folks behind the production and the studio giant are said to be "determined to make the pic." And noe, they're not gonna pull a Halo on this one, they said.

The movie adaptation was first announced May of 2008.

Cross your fingers.

---

Related Articles:

• BioShock 2 video interview: Rapture revealed