I just wanted to let you all know that it’s totally safe to stop wearing your seat belts, going to church or continuing your leukemia treatment, because thanks to another video game film adaptation, the world will soon be safe again. Back in April, Vince reported on pre-production issues which had halted the upcoming Gore Verbinski production of Bioshock, an XBox 360 game being adapted for the big screen *sad trombone*. Well good news, in an effort to save money on the proposed $160 million production, Universal has slated the film to shoot overseas, taking full advantage of foreign tax cuts. This info knocks Verbinski out of directing duties, stepping aside to producer while 28 Weeks Later director, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (first read as Fresna”dildo”) is negotiating to take over as director.

With “Bioshock,” Fresnadillo is stepping into one of the highest-profile projects on the Universal roster. Verbinski came attached as director when Universal made a multimillion- dollar against gross percentage acquisition from Take-Two. Verbinski then stepped away from directing his fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean” film because he expected to be in production on “Bioshock” last spring in Los Angeles. [Variety]

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Say what you will about The Ring being a pretty good remake or The Mexican not being as bad as everyone says, it’s impossible to put a positive spin on the phrase “the director of Pirates of the Caribbean 3 is doing a videogame movie.”  That’s the story behind Gore Verbinski’s Bioshock, which recently halted productions due to cost overruns.

The picture was in pre-production, but the studio has halted that effort — and let some production staff go — as Universal and Verbinski figure out a way to make the film on a less costly budget.  The John Logan-scripted picture was gearing up to shoot in Los Angeles, but that changed when the budget rose to about $160 million. U and Verbinski are looking at alternatives, such as shooting in London, as a way to pare costs. Story takes place in the underwater city Rapture, where a pilot crash-lands near a secret entrance and becomes involved in a power struggle. [Variety]

Okay, two things: 1. Street Fighter is probably the most well-known videogame of all time, and the movie has so far grossed $11 million worldwide, even with a performance for the ages from Chris Klein. No way you spend more than $10 mil on a video game movie (which, let’s be clear, are NEVER EVER GOOD). 2. London? A pint of beer costs like $15 in London.  If it’s cheaper to shoot a movie there than in the supposed entertainment capital, something is seriously wrong with Los Angeles.  Something besides Entourage, even.