Take-Two Interactive Software, the publisher of Grand Theft Auto series, announced that its BioShock videogame will be adapted into a movie, which will be directed by none other than "avid video gamer and true fan of BioShock," Gore Verbinski, helmer of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies.

"BioShock fans appreciate the depth and complexity of the game, and our partnership with Gore Verbinski will introduce the world of Rapture to an even wider audience," Christoph Hartmann, president of Take-Two’s 2K Games was quoted by animationmagazine.net as saying. "In addition to his impressive body of work, Gore is an avid video gamer and true fan of BioShock. That was extremely important to us in deciding to move forward with this project."

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

The award-winning videogame, a first-person shooter which puts the player in the role of the sole survivor of an ocean plane crash, who discovers an underwater city built in the 1930s, will be made into a movie set to be the highest profile adaptation since 2005's "Halo" project, currently suspended.

"It's a much more intimate story than Pirates," Verbinski explained. "Although it's an adventure, its a dramatic adventure. I see it more along the lines of Blade Runner."

Verbinski also said that he was prepared to make a BioShock movie rated R. Beyond the dark tone and violence of the game, Verbinski added that the "graphic nature of the story is smarter than that."

BioShock has sold more than 2 million copies and Take-Two is working on a sequel.