The Bioshock movie may be back on track. Variety says director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is in talks to helm the film for Universal Pictures. Juan Carlos is best known Stateside for directing 28 Weeks Later, the sequel to Danny Boyle’s successful pseudo zombie film 28 Days Later.

Fresnadillo is stepping in for Gore Verbinksi, former Pirates of the Caribbean helmer who back June said, basically, that he didn’t think Bioshock was possible because they weren’t going to give him enough money. He needed money because in order to fit it into his schedule he had to direct it in the United States where everything is (at least until our government is overthrown by crazed town hall protestors and descends into total anarchy) more expensive. Universal wanted to save money and shoot overseas and so now here comes Fresnadillo, a director best known for shooting large-scale, effects-heavy movies on the cheap.

Here’s the thing: I’m not sure you can actually do a Bioshock movie on the cheap. The game is a series of endless, massive, mind-boggling and atmospheric set pieces which should look incredible on screen… but only if you spend a lot of money on them. Of course that could be precisely why Universal is so keen to shoot it overseas, so they can afford the kind of massive effects work they’ll need to realize it. Or they could be hiring Fresnadillo to save a buck and churn out something cheesy on the cheap. Who’s feeling optimistic?