Guillermo del Toro has spent years trying to adapt video games for the big screen, and one of those attempts ended in disaster. In a new interview with IGN, the acclaimed filmmaker revealed that his conversations with the creators of BioShock were so terrible that he walked away from the project entirely.
The Mexican director, known for films like Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth, said the calls with game studios were “probably one of the most disastrous calls I’ve ever had.” He added, “Uh… so no, I’m fucking done.”
Del Toro’s Game History
Del Toro is a longtime gamer, and he has even attempted to make a game himself. His project, Insane, was never completed, and he described the experience of designing a game’s structure as fundamentally different from filmmaking.
“You know, I tried. We had a very contentious call about a couple of games,” del Toro told IGN. “I find that the dynamics of a video game are very different than a movie, right? They may be cinematically similar in terms of the camera moving, and this and that, but the storytelling is very different because you’re not solving puzzles. You’re not assembling.”
He explained that game design requires a different approach to narrative. “When we made the structure for [my never completed game] Insane, we created what I call a mandala; you have to give the illusion of an infinite sandbox, and you lead audiences to the right or to the left through their own decisions, quote unquote, but you sort of have to corner them.”
“So it’s a very different thing,” he concluded. “So adapting it… You know, BioShock, we had a couple of calls. They are two of-probably one of the most disastrous calls I’ve ever had. Uh… so no, I’m fucking done.”
Games He Likes
Despite the failed BioShock adaptation, del Toro remains a fan of several games. He named Left 4 Dead, Death Stranding, and Shadow of the Colossus as titles he enjoys, saying the latter made him think hard about “so many untangible things.”
He is also a fan of Dead Cells, though he admitted he hates the constant respawning that comes with it. And he praised BioShock specifically for its world, calling it “a game with a world I could get lost in for ages.”
The one game he plays the most, however, is far more humble. “Every day in my life, every moment I have free, I’m still playing Angry Birds,” he admitted. “I’m really good at it. I’m really good at it.”
The BioShock Movie’s Long Road
The BioShock film has been in development since at least 2010, and it has survived multiple setbacks along the way. In 2022, 2K announced that the project would be made for Netflix. Then in 2024, the film’s producer claimed that it was still happening at Netflix, but the budget had been slashed.
“âWeâre doing a much smaller version,â” producer Roy Lee said at Comic-Con in 2024. “âItâs going to be a more personal point of view, as opposed to a grander, big project.â”
The film is still in development, though its future remains uncertain.
The Adaptation Problem
The core issue, according to del Toro, is that the storytelling in a video game is fundamentally different from a movie. Players solve puzzles and assemble information through their own decisions, while a film leads the audience along a predetermined path.
That difference is what made the BioShock calls so difficult. Del Toro described the frustration of trying to translate a game’s structure into a linear narrative.
“I I find that the dynamics of a video game are very different than a movie, right? They may be cinematically similar in terms of the camera moving, and this and that, but the storytelling is very different because you’re not solving puzzles. You’re not assembling.”
The mandala structure he designed for Insane required leading players through an illusion of an infinite sandbox, guiding them to the right or to the left through their own decisions. That kind of design simply does not map onto a traditional screenplay.
Del Toro’s Blunt Admission
Del Toro’s blunt admission about the BioShock calls shows a willingness to be honest about what did not work. He did not soften the blow or pretend the project was close to completion. He simply said it was over.
The disaster calls were enough to convince him to walk away from the project entirely.
What Happens Next
The BioShock film remains in development, but without del Toro’s involvement. Roy Lee’s comments suggest the project is being scaled back, with a more personal point of view replacing the original grand scope.
Whether the film ever reaches the screen is unclear. The project has been in development for years, and the budget cuts suggest it may face further delays.
Del Toro, for his part, has moved on. He remains a fan of BioShock, but he has no desire to return to the project that gave him such trouble.
The Verdict on the Interview
Del Toro’s admission is refreshing. He is a successful filmmaker who has no problem admitting when a project does not work out. The BioShock calls were disastrous, and he knows it.
The comparison between game and film storytelling is a valid one. Players solve puzzles and assemble information through their own decisions, while a film leads the audience along a predetermined path. Those dynamics are simply incompatible.
Del Toro’s honesty is the story here. He did not try to spin the failed calls as a learning experience or a missed opportunity. He just said it did not work, and he walked away.
Key Facts Box
- Del Toro’s failed game: Insane
- Failed BioShock calls: “Probably one of the most disastrous calls I’ve ever had”
- Game he plays most: Angry Birds
- Games he named as favorites: Left 4 Dead, Death Stranding, Shadow of the Colossus, Dead Cells
- BioShock film announced for Netflix: 2022
- Budget cut acknowledged: 2024
- Project still in development: Yes
Comparison Table
| Element | Game | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Sandbox, player-driven | Linear, writer-driven |
| Storytelling | Puzzle-solving, assembly | Narrative arc |
| Audience role | Active participant | Passive observer |
The Bottom Line
Del Toro’s attempt to adapt BioShock was a disaster, and he knows it. The calls with the game’s creators were so bad that he walked away, and he has no plans to return.
For a man of his stature, that is a rare admission. He is not ashamed of the failure, and he does not try to dress it up. He just says it happened, it was awful, and it is over.
The BioShock film will likely continue without him. Whether it ever gets made is anyone’s guess. For now, the project remains in development, scaled down, and without its most famous would-be adapter.
Del Toro has moved on to other things. He is still playing Angry Birds. The BioShock movie, however, is one project he is truly done with.
See the video the story is built around at Kotaku.
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