Gore Verbinski Directing "Bioshock"!

Since we caught wind of a potential Bioshock film adaptation earlier this year, I've been dreading the day we finally got some concrete information on the project. After all, the highly stylized and singularly atmospheric game was pretty much perfect, and it's not as if video game film adaptations have historically faired well.

But now that Gore Verbinski has been announced as the director, I'm going to publically renounce my displeasure with the project and replace it with fanboyish glee. There aren't many directors in Hollywood with a strong visual sense, not these days anyway, and Verbinski has always struck me as a rare talent when it comes to style.

Between his excellent remake of The Ring, perhaps the only good Asian-horror remake, and his work on the Pirates of the Caribbean films, I'm confident this man can effectively translate Bioshock to the big screen.

There's also very little chance this adaptation can go the way of Halo -- Bioshock publisher Take-Two Interactive has supposedly coordinated the largest game-to-movie deal ever. Executive chairman Strauss Zelnick reports that he structured the deal "to make sure it gets made."

Aviator/Sweeney Todd scribe John Logan is working on the script, and Verbinski has been reportedly talking collaborating with Ken Levine, the game's creative director. After reading so much about the development of Bioshock, I think it's clear that we owe much of the game's greatness to Levine. Given that, I certainly hope Verbinski uses him than a mere creative consultant.

Verbinski's enthusiasm for the project also gives me hope:

"I think the whole utopia-gone-wrong story that's cleverly unveiled to players is just brimming with cinematic potential," said Verbinski. "Of all the games I've played, this is one that I felt has a really strong narrative."

Verbinski says he'll begin production as soon as Logan is finished with the script. I, for one, will be waiting in anticipation.

[Source: Variety]