Resident Evil Reboot In the Works From Barbarian Director

Zach Cregger, director of the acclaimed horror film Barbarian and a member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids You Know, is set to helm 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, captivated audiences with its chilling tale of a woman's terrifying discovery at a seemingly ordinary rental house. He's already completed his next film, Weapons, which reportedly has tested exceptionally well with audiences. [Read our Barbarian review here.]

This will be the second attempt at rebooting the Resident Evil film franchise. Paul W.S. Anderson's six-film series, starring Milla Jovovich, grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide, though it deviated significantly from the source material. The 2021 film, Welcome to Raccoon City, directed by Johannes Roberts, aimed for greater game fidelity but fell short of critical acclaim.

Constantin Film will once again produce, partnering with PlayStation Productions. Established in 2019, PlayStation Productions is actively expanding the cinematic universe of Sony's video game properties, with previous 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 Ghost of Tsushima anime series are also in development.