Zach Cregger, the director behind the hit horror film Barbarian and a founding member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U' Know, is developing a reboot of the Resident Evil movie franchise.
The Hollywood Reporter reveals a bidding war is underway for distribution rights to Cregger's fresh take on Capcom's iconic survival horror series, with the filmmaker set to write and direct the project. According to THR, four major studios—including Netflix and Warner Bros.—are competing for the opportunity.
Cregger gained recognition for his 2022 horror sensation Barbarian, which follows a woman who uncovers terrifying secrets after checking into a suspicious rental home. The director has already completed his next feature, Weapons, which early test screenings indicate is resonating strongly with audiences.
Read our full Barbarian review here.
This marks the second cinematic reboot for the Resident Evil franchise. The original six-film series, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, grossed $1.2 billion globally despite taking creative liberties with the source material. Director Johannes Roberts' 2021 attempt, Welcome to Raccoon City, aimed for greater faithfulness to the games but still fell short of capturing the quality that made Capcom's series legendary.
Similar to previous adaptations, Constantin Film will produce the new reboot alongside PlayStation Productions. Sony established PlayStation Productions in 2019 to shepherd its gaming properties to screen, with credits including Tom Holland's Uncharted, Gran Turismo, The Last of Us television series, and Twisted Metal.
Future PlayStation Productions adaptations include Until Dawn, Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, Gravity Rush, Helldivers, Horizon Zero Dawn, and a sequel to Uncharted. Additional projects in development include a God of War television series and a recently announced Ghost of Tsushima anime.
