Resident Evil Reboot In the Works From Barbarian Director

Zach Cregger, acclaimed director of the horror film Barbarian and a member of the comedy troupe 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, captivated audiences with its chilling tale of a woman who discovers a terrifying secret hidden within her rental home. He's already completed his next project, Weapons, which reportedly has received overwhelmingly positive audience test screenings. [Read our Barbarian review here.]

This will be the second attempt at rebooting the Resident Evil franchise. Paul W.S. Anderson's six-film series, starring Milla Jovovich, while deviating from the games, achieved significant box office success, grossing $1.2 billion worldwide. The 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City, directed by Johannes Roberts, aimed for greater game fidelity but fell short of matching the quality of Capcom's source material.

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), Grand 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 show and a recently announced Ghost of Tsushima anime series are also in development.