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After reporting a few months ago that Gore Verbinski‘s big screen adaptation of Bioshock was about dead at Universal, we’re getting reports now that things are back on, with a new butt in the director’s chair.

According to a Variety report, Verbinski has stepped down because the studio’s budger plan for the film has been revamped, including a relocation abroad in order to take advantage of international tax credits. Verbinski couldn’t commit to the international shoot, as he’s currently deep entrenched in Rango over at Paramount, the animated film with Johnny Depp leading it’s voice cast.

So who will jump in and save Bioshock? Spanish director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, who previously brought us 28 Weeks Later, the sequel to Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later. Gore Verbinski will stay on to produce the film, which he helped bring to Universal from Take-Two interactive.

Universal, who has vowed not to allow this to become the next Halo, appears to be back on track after killing pre-production when Verbinski’s budget went north of $160 million. And with an international shoot and some creative tax credits, it looks like they might actually deliver on their promise. Fresnadillo is a potentially excellent choice, as well. He showed serious chops with his debut, Intacto, and followed with a more than apt job continuing the zombie franchise with 28 Weeks. And with Verbinski still on to produce, I don’t think we’re losing anything here. It’s a similar situation to a Halo movie — or at least the planned one — in which Peter Jackson was going to produce and allow District 9 director Neill Blomkamp to direct. That didn’t happen, but I think we can all agree that it would’ve been solid. This feels like a very, very similar situation.

What do you think of a Fresnadillo directed Bioshock movie?