Award-winning videogame "Bioshock" is to be turned into a movie by "Pirates of the Caribbean" director Gore Verbinski, entertainment industry media reported Friday.

The film is set to be the highest profile adaptation of a videogame since 2005, when Fox paid Microsoft five million dollars for rights to make "Halo," a project now scrapped, Variety reported.

"Bioshock" is set in a futuristic underwater city called Rapture which has spiralled into anarchy.

"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 report said a number of producers and studios had approached the publishers of "Bioshock," Take Two, since its release in August.

However the company had waited until the game won a clutch of industry awards before agreeing a deal with Universal.