Universal halts 'BioShock' film

Universal Pictures has halted production on Gore Verbinski’s film adaptation of BioShock due to budgetary constraints.

According to Variety, shooting the film in Los Angeles would have cost Universal $160 million (£108 million), a bill it is unwilling to foot. Alternate locations around the UK are currently being sought so filming can commence.

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

BioShock was originally released in 2007 for Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3, shipping over 2 million copies in its first year. Its sequel, BioShock 2, will be released later this year.