Zach Cregger, acclaimed director of the horror film Barbarian and a member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U Know, is helming a Resident Evil reboot. The Hollywood Reporter reports a fierce bidding war is underway for distribution rights, with Netflix and Warner Bros. among the four studios vying for the project. Cregger will write and direct this new take on the iconic Capcom survival horror franchise.
Cregger's 2022 film, Barbarian, garnered significant attention for its chilling tale of a woman who uncovers a terrifying secret in her rented house. He has already completed his next film, Weapons, which reportedly has tested exceptionally well with audiences. [Read our Barbarian review here.]
This will mark the second cinematic reboot of the Resident Evil franchise. The previous series, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, comprised six films that, despite deviating from the games' storylines, achieved a global box office gross of $1.2 billion. A 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City, directed by Johannes Roberts, aimed for greater game fidelity but fell short of replicating the games' quality.
Like its predecessors, Constantin Film will produce the upcoming reboot, partnering with PlayStation Productions. Established in 2019, PlayStation Productions adapts Sony's game properties for film and television, with past successes including Uncharted (starring Tom Holland), Gran Turismo, the The Last of Us TV series, and Twisted Metal.
Future PlayStation Productions projects include adaptations of Until Dawn, Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, Gravity Rush, Helldivers, Horizon Zero Dawn, and an Uncharted sequel. A God of War TV series and a recently announced Ghost of Tsushima anime series are also in development.
