Zach Cregger, acclaimed director of the horror film Barbarian and a member of The Whitest Kids You 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, about a woman who discovers a terrifying secret in her rental house, solidified his horror credentials. He's already completed his next film, Weapons, which reportedly received highly positive audience test screenings. [Read our Barbarian review here.]
This will be the second attempt at a Resident Evil film reboot. Paul W.S. Anderson's six-film series, starring Milla Jovovich, grossed $1.2 billion worldwide, despite significant deviations from the games. The 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City, directed by Johannes Roberts, aimed for greater game fidelity but fell short of critical acclaim.
Constantin Film will again produce this new reboot, partnering with PlayStation Productions. Launched in 2019, PlayStation Productions adapts Sony's game properties for film and television, with past successes including Uncharted (starring Tom Holland), Grand Turismo, the The Last of Us TV series, and Twisted Metal.
Future PlayStation Productions projects include films based on Until Dawn, Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, Gravity Rush, Helldivers, and Horizon Zero Dawn, along with an Uncharted sequel. A God of War TV show and a recently announced Ghost of Tsushima anime series are also in development.
