Gore Verbinski ("Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Ring") is attached to direct and produce "Bioshock", a film adaptation of the highly acclaimed best-selling XBOX 360 video game, for Universal Pictures.

Marking the biggest videogame-to-movie deal since 2005 with the aborted "Halo" movie, "Bioshock" publisher Take-Two Interactive gets a several million advance, gross points, and a deal structure to ensure the film gets made according to Variety.

"Bioshock" takes place in an underwater city based on the free market principles of Ayn Rand, but things have gone disastrously wrong. Players control a pilot who crash-lands at a secret entrance to the city, called Rapture, and is drawn into a power struggle during which he discovers that his will is not as free as he'd thought.

Verbinski noted that Rapture's art deco design and visually arresting characters, such as the mechanical Big Daddys who protect genetically mutated girls called Little Sisters, particularly inspired him to see the game as a film.

"The Aviator" & "Sweeney Todd" scribe John Logan is in talks to pen the screenplay. Though no release date is even being targeted, Verbinski said he plans to start pre-production as soon as Logan's script is finished and approved by all involved.

Take-Two is developing a "Bioshock" sequel that will be released in 2009, almost certainly before the film comes out.